• NET Web Desk

The Tizit police on Monday filed a suo moto First Information Report (FIR) against 21 paramilitary forces, citing the civilian killings as ‘murder’.

“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 injured many others” – asserted the FIR.

“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.” – further added the FIR.

Responding to the killings and it’s repercussions, the Indian Army earlier issued a statement of regret. “The incident and its aftermath is deeply regretted. The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law,” – asserted the Indian Army.

The unfortunate incident is basically the repercussion of army operation, which mistook the civilians as insurgents from the Yung Aung faction of the banned militant outfit – National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K).

However, authorities said that in an attempt to retaliate, a large crowd of angry villagers gathered in Mon, and vandalized the Assam Rifles camp.

In a view to refrain the move, the security forces opened fire to disperse the crowd, leading to the death of one more civilian.

After the incident, prohibitory orders have been imposed along Mon, and internet connections were banned in the entire district citing “apprehension of grave law and order problems”.

However, the ban was lifted on Sunday evening.