• NET Web Desk

Following the assault by Special forces of Army that resulted in the killing of at least 13 Oting villagers along with a soldier in Mon district of Nagaland near Assam border, the situation has turned critical as pressure is being mounted on the immediate action against the perpetrators.

It may be mentioned that, Thirteen villagers and a soldier were killed at an Indo-Myanmar border district in Nagaland on Saturday as a counter-insurgency operation went wrong. On Sunday, a civilian was killed in firing by the Assam Rifles when an angry mob stormed into their camp in Mon town and set a part of their camp on fire.

The copy for the FIR read, “It is to be noted that at the time of incident there was no police guide nor security forces did make requisition to police station to provide police guide for their operation. Hence it is obvious that the intention of security forces is to murder and injure civilians.”

“At around 1530 hours, coal mine labourers of Oting village were returning to their native village Oting from Tiru in a vehicle Bolero pick up. On reaching at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting village, security forces blankly opened fire at the vehicle without any provocation resulting to the killing of many Oting villagers and seriously injuring many others (sic),” the FIR added.

Following the massacre, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said during the Lok Sabha session that, “December 4, 5 will be remembered as black day in the history of Nagaland. People of NE want to live in peace, address the issue of unemployment and showcase beautiful culture. And now the Hornbill festival is going on that brings diverse tribes together and Christmas is on its way. Similarly Government of India is holding a very important negotiation on Naga political issue. At this juncture killing of innocent civilians is highly condemnable. I appeal for peace from all sections of the society and peace can only be delivered if the Union Home Minister and Defence Minister give us the truth and give us justice. Death of Indian civilians on the basis of inaccurate intelligence input is highly condemnable.”

Gogoi further added, “The question on everyone’s mind is that how come the unarmed labourers could not be distinguished from hard-core militants, how could unarmed civilians not been detained and arrested instead if shot at. So I request HM and Defence Minister to give statement and central government should announce ex-gratia for the families of the deceased and I appeal if you look at what is happening in the NE, in this month unarmed civilians were attacked, on November an army convoy was ambushed killing army colonel and his family in Manipur. Prior to that, there had been clash between police of Assam and Mizoram.”