The Election Commission has asked the Nagaland government to take action against intimidation of voters by members of NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K) in order to prevent them from voting. They have also been asked to report daily to the EC on ‘‘reluctant’’ officials.In a letter to chief secretary of the state, R.S. Pandey, the Commission said: ‘‘The Commission is in receipt of reports stating that the atmosphere created by the ceasefire agreement in your state is being misutilised by the NSCN(IM) and NSCN(K) cadres to intimidate the voting public in the state.’’The Commission further stated, ‘‘From tomorrow everyday at 5 pm, a report should come from the state government on the concrete steps taken by the state administration in effectively countering this unwelcome phenomenon that is occurring.’’‘‘Your report must also mention action taken by the government on the local officialdom who despite directions from higher quarters are reluctant to act as directed,’’ the letter stated.Stating that the Commission was closely monitoring the ‘‘unwelcome situation’’, the letter added, ‘‘.if the members of the underground are causing or are likely to cause through their actions such apprehensions in the mind of the voter that would impinge on his right to exercise his franchise in a free and fair manner, then they are to be dealt with firmly and any such intimidation effectively neutralised.’’ The EC has written a similar letter on February 10 seeking stern action against such intimidation tactics.
