The correct answer is: a) Inter-tribal conflicts.
The Naga Hills are a mountainous region in northeastern India. The Naga people are a diverse group of tribes who have lived in the region for centuries. The British first came into contact with the Naga in the 18th century, and they began to exert control over the region in the 19th century.
One of the main reasons for British intervention in the Naga Hills was inter-tribal conflict. The Naga tribes were constantly fighting with each other, and the British saw this as a threat to their own security. The British also wanted to control the trade routes through the Naga Hills, and they believed that they could do this by bringing the Naga under their control.
The British did not succeed in completely subjugating the Naga, and there were many rebellions against British rule. However, the British were able to establish a degree of control over the region, and they continued to rule the Naga Hills until India gained independence in 1947.
The other options are not correct because:
- b) Naga raids into neighboring territories were not a major factor leading to increased British intervention in the Naga Hills. The British were more concerned with the inter-tribal conflicts within the Naga Hills than with the Naga raids into neighboring territories.
- c) Discovery of valuable minerals was not a major factor leading to increased British intervention in the Naga Hills. The British did not discover any valuable minerals in the Naga Hills, and they were not interested in the region for its mineral resources.
- d) Growing influence of other colonial powers was not a major factor leading to increased British intervention in the Naga Hills. The British were the only colonial power in the region, and they did not face any competition from other colonial powers.