Nagaland Governor calls out law-and-order collapse, Congress says state government turning a blind eye

GUWAHATI: Following Nagaland governor RN Ravi pointing to a collapse of law and order in the state, the opposition - Congress - has claimed that the judiciary had been hijacked by trouble-seeking people, while the government willing turns a blind eye to the situation.

In a letter to chief minister Neiphiu Rio, Ravi had proposed important law and order changes including transfers and postings of officials, which will happen with the approval of the Governor.

A minister in the Nagaland cabinet, who wished to remain anonymous, told ET, “There was meeting on June 19 where it was agreed to review and improve the law and order in the state."


Congress party in the state tweeted, “It is high time for Hon'ble Governor of Nagaland Shri RN Ravi to 'read out the riot act' to PDA Govt for its failure on all fronts, particularly on law & order. The writ of the state has been fully hijacked by nefarious elements as the state govt turns blind eye."


The Governor in a letter dated June 16 stated the scenario in the state is grim. Law and order has collapsed. The constitutionally established state government is being challenged on a daily basis by armed gangs who question the sovereignty and integrity of the nation while instruments of law and order remain totally unresponsive.

“In such a backdrop I can no longer abstain from my constitutional obligations for law and order in the state under Article 371 A(1(b) of the constitution of India,” Ravi wrote.

“I also propose to periodically review the law and order in the state and issue required lawful directions. In order to instil and ensure accountability, I also prefer to review the annual performance appraisal reports of all such officers,” he added.

Interlocutor of Naga talks, Ravi was appointed as Governor of Nagaland in 2019.

According to the state police, since 2015, around 893 cases have been registered against various rebel groups and around 1,238 people have been arrested for their involvement.

“I have been closely observing the precarious law and order situation in the state with a lot of concern, since August 2019, when I came here as the Governor. Day by day unrestrained depredations by half a dozen organised armed gangs, brazenly running their respective so called government challenging the legitimacy of the state government without any resistance from the state law and order machinery has created a crisis of confidence in the system. Law abiding citizens – be they daily wage earners, petty vendors, businessmen, shopkeepers, owners of restaurants or government servants - are made miserable by rampant extortions and violence by the armed gangs,” said Ravi.

He elaborated that the situation has deteriorated to such an extent that armed miscreants appoint their own dealers for every commodity from salt to construction materials coming into the state. They decide and levy illegal taxes on every item. They run syndicates for contraband - including alcoholic drinks - which they help smuggle into the state.