Kohima: Nagaland is more stable today than ever before. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio told the state Assembly on Friday that the region has finally shed its violent history. He credited this change to improved connectivity and a massive drop in militant activity since the state was formed in 1963.
The data shows a clear shift. From 2004 to 2009, underground groups staged 257 violent incidents, causing 126 total deaths. Between 2021 and 2026, those numbers plummeted to just eight incidents and five total casualties. The Chief Minister emphasized that the change is undeniable. "The comparative figures do not lie," Rio said.
Public safety statistics now rank Nagaland among the safest places in India. In 2024, the state recorded 61.6 crimes per lakh people. That stands far below the national average of 418.8 per lakh. Only Dadra and Nagar Haveli reported a lower rate.
Crimes against women also hit a national low in Nagaland. The state recorded 5.1 incidents per lakh population. This sits well below the national average of 64.6. Rio claims these figures prove the state is moving away from its dark past toward a future of consistent growth.
Updated at 5th September 2026 at 6:00pm
Breaking down the death toll from the 2004 to 2009 window, Rio noted that six security personnel died in addition to the 120-plus casualties among civilians and underground cadres. These early losses largely stemmed from infighting between rival factions.
The data for the 2021 to 2026 period also shows a specific breakdown of those five total fatalities. Four were either underground cadres or civilians, while one death involved security personnel.
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