News Analysis India

Tag: Nagaland Civilian Killings

  • Army allows Nagaland SIT to question jawans for civilian killings

    Express News Service

    GUWAHATI: The Nagaland government-constituted Special Investigation Team (SIT) will question the Army personnel who were involved in the December 4 killing of civilians during and after a botched ambush at Oting in the state’s Mon district.

    A senior Nagaland Police official confirmed on Wednesday that the Army had granted access to the SIT to quiz the personnel.

    However, it was not clear if the personnel will be questioned face to face or they will give written replies to queries from the SIT. Nagaland government sources said face to face questioning was more likely.

    Meanwhile, an Army team probing the incident visited places in Mon, including the site of the ambush, on Wednesday. The team was led by a Major General who is heading the probe.

    The Konyak (tribe) civil society organisations had earlier asked the personnel to not come in uniform or with arms “for their safety as the sight of uniform and weapons might provoke the villagers”.

    ALSO READ | Major shift in Centre’s stance as panel set up to lift draconian AFSPA in Nagaland

    A Nagaland government source said the personnel had “cooperated with the demand of the civil societies”. They were reportedly provided security by the state police.

    In a statement, the Army’s 3 Corps headquarters based in Nagaland’s Dimapur said the Court of Inquiry, instituted by the Army to investigate the incident, visited the site of the incident.

    “The inquiry team, headed by a Major General, inspected the site to understand the circumstances in which the incident could have happened,” the statement said.

    “The team also took along the witnesses for better understanding of the situation and how events would have unfolded,” it added.

    Later, the team visited the Tizit police station to meet cross-sections of the society, including civilians, police personnel and doctors who treated the injured, for obtaining valuable information pertaining to the incident, the statement said.

    Earlier, the Army had requested people to share any information pertaining to the incident directly by being present before the inquiry team at Tizit police station. It had also shared a WhatsApp number so that people could share firsthand photos or videos related to the incident.

    “As per the Indian Army, the Court of Inquiry is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest,” the statement added.

  • Nagaland civilian killings: Tribal bodies ask people not to cooperate with army

    By PTI

    KOHIMA: Top organisations of the Konyak tribe in Nagaland have announced a set of regulations, including “strict non-cooperation” with the army, saying the people will follow them until justice is served in the killing of 14 civilians by security forces in a botched up operation and its aftermath in the North-eastern state earlier this month.

    Thirteen of the 14 people killed in three episodes of firing by army personnel on December 4 and 5 belonged to the Konyak tribe, one of the major tribes of Nagaland.

    In a joint statement, the Konyak Union, the apex body of the tribe, Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (mothers’ organisation) and the Konyak Students Union asked the members of the tribe not to take part in any army recruitment rally and refrain from accepting any package or assistance from the military forces.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland civilians killings: Konyak bodies harden stand against military

    “Total restriction on Indian Military force convoy and patrolling on Konyak soil shall continue until justice is delivered to those 14 innocent Konyak youths” who were killed, the statement said.

    The Konyak bodies also directed all customary landowners to immediately denounce past land agreements for setting up army base camps within their jurisdiction.

    The Konyak bodies urged citizens to refrain from taking part in merrymaking such as open picnics in Mon district.

    However, pre-scheduled programmes like weddings and church events were allowed.

    They also demanded that the state government take responsibility for medical treatment and security of the two persons, survivors of the firing on December 4.

    ALSO READ | Families of Nagaland firing victims decline compensation, demand justice first

    They are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Assam.

    A public rally will be held in Mon district on December 16, according to the statement issued on Monday after a seven-day mourning period is over.

    The statement said black flags would be hoisted in every vehicle and black badges worn by all till justice is delivered.

    Altogether 14 civilians in Nagaland’s Mon district were killed in three consecutive episodes of firing by security forces, the first of which has been claimed to be a case of mistaken identity.

    ALSO READ | Nagaland firing incident proves high time AFSPA is repealed from NE: Irom Sharmila

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah had told the Lok Sabha the army had received information on the movement of insurgents in Mon and ’21 Para Commando’ unit had laid an ambush.

    “A vehicle was signalled to stop but it tried to speed away. Suspecting the presence of insurgents in the vehicle, the security personnel opened fire, leading to the death of six of its eight occupants,” Shah said.

    Eight others, including an army man, were killed in subsequent clashes between the force and villagers.

    However, several political parties have contested the government version that the vehicle was asked to stop.

  • Sonia Gandhi slams Centre on farmers’ issue, Nagaland civilian killings, price rise at CPP meet

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: Congress chief Sonia Gandhi hit out at the Central government on multiple issues at the Congress’ parliamentary party meeting on Wednesday and said that the Congress will continue to support the cause of the farmers.

    Sonia Gandhi said that the three farm laws were repealed “undemocratically”, just as their passage last year was pushed through without discussion. She added that the Congress stands firm in its commitment to stand by the farmers in their demands for a legally guaranteed MSP, remunerative prices that meet the costs of cultivation and compensation to the bereaved families.

    Addressing the Congress Parliamentary Party (CPP) at Central Hall in the Parliament, she said, “Farmers and their organisations have been strongly protesting and agitating against these laws for the past thirteen months. It is the solidarity and tenacity, of the farmers, their discipline and dedication that has forced an arrogant Government to climbdown. Let us salute them for their great achievement.  Let us remember that more than 700 farmers have been martyred in the past twelve months and honor their sacrifice.”

    She attacked the Centre over price rise of essential commodities and the Narendra Modi-led Centre’s failed attempts to address the issue.

    “Since this session commenced, we have also been raising the issue of spiralling prices of all essential commodities. I cannot understand how and why the Modi Government is so insensitive and that it continues to deny the seriousness of the problem. It seems impervious to the suffering of the people,” she added.

    Terming the reduction in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices a totally insufficient and inadequate move, Sonia Gandhi said, “As usual, the government has passed on the responsibility for duty cuts to financially strapped state governments – when it itself has far greater room for action.  And all this while, the Centre persists with huge public expenditure on vain glorious projects!  The prices of edible oils, pulses and vegetables are burning a hole in the monthly budget of every household. The rising prices of cement, steel and other basic industrial commodities also does not bode well for economic recovery.”

    On the ongoing rift at the India-China border, she said it is extraordinary that Parliament has been given no opportunity whatsoever so far to have a discussion on the challenges we continue to face on our borders. 

    “Such a discussion would have also been an opportunity to demonstrate a collective will and resolve. The government may not want to answer difficult questions but it is the right and duty of the Opposition to seek clarifications and explanations. The Modi Government steadfastly refuses to allocate time for a debate. I would once again urge for a full-fledged discussion on the border situation and relations with our neighbours,” she added.

    With new Covid-19 variant Omicron creating global scare, she said “medical experts have clearly said that every adult must receive two doses of vaccination.”

    “The Modi Government indulged in massive publicity and celebrations when the 100-crore dose mark was reached. Needless to say, it never bothered to mention that the 100-crore mark figure was for a single vaccination only. The sad reality is that the country is nowhere close to reaching the level of double-dose vaccination announced by the Government for the end of the year.  Efforts must clearly be intensified—the daily vaccination dose has to increase four-fold so that even 60 per cent of the population is covered with both doses,” she said.

    She demanded justice for families of civilians killed in Nagaland by army and that credible steps must be taken to prevent the recurrence of such ghastly tragedies.  

    On the suspension of 12 Rajya Sabha MPs, Sonia Gandhi called it outrageous and  unprecedented, and that it violates both the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Council of States.

  • Congress forms four-member delegation to visit Nagaland in wake of civilian killings

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Monday constituted a four-member delegation to visit Nagaland and submit a report within a week on civilian killings in Mon district.

    “Congress president (Sonia Gandhi) has constituted a delegation to visit Nagaland and report on the matters related to the recent killing of innocent citizens and sequential violence in Mon district in Nagaland,” an official communication from the party said.

    The delegation comprises senior party leaders Jitendra Singh, Ajoy Kumar, Gaurav Gogoi and Anto Antony, it said.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland firing incident case of mistaken identity, govt expresses regret: Amit Shah in Lok Sabha

    “The delegation will submit a report to the Congress president within a week,” the party said.

    Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said the party stands with the people of Nagaland.

    “Congress is on the ground in Oting Village, Tizit Assembly Constituency, Mon District. W Aum Yim Vice President NPCC, Mr Nadang Konyak, President DCC Mon, President NSUI DIMAPUR Unit.”

    ACCC Vice President, General Secrecy ACCC Tizit and PCC President K Therie along with others participated in the Mon Town funeral that took place this morning, Rahul Gandhi said in a Facebook post.

    ​ALSO READ | Nagaland civilians killings: Six-hour long bandh, call passes off peacefully in state

    “Profound condolences to the families of those who’ve been killed in the incident. We are with you, #Nagaland,” he said.

    The party also demanded a discussion on the Nagaland incident in both houses of Parliament, where Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement on behalf of the government on Monday.

    Security forces opened fire on civilians killing 14 and injuring 11 more in Nagaland’s Mon district in three consecutive episodes, the first of which was a case of mistaken identity, police said on Sunday.

    One soldier also died in rioting which followed.

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