Newmai News Network
DIMAPUR, SEP 20: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has written to the Union Home minister demanding the prosecution sanction against 21 Para (security force) personnel involved in “Oting massacre” of Nagaland in 2021.
In its representation to the Union Home minister, the apex Naga student body expressed its “utmost indignation and deep concern” over the closure of criminal proceedings against the personnel of 21 Para (security force) involved in the tragic killing of 14 civilians at Oting, Mon district, Nagaland, on December 4, 2021. The Supreme Court’s decision on September 17, 2024 to close the FIRs without prosecution further compounds the gross injustice the Naga people have endured, said the NSF.
The NSF then said it was appalled by the “Government of India’s consistent refusal” to grant prosecution sanction against the guilty personnel. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Nagaland Government had filed a chargesheet naming 30 members of the 21 Para (SF), based on “irrefutable” evidence it pointed out. The charges were not vague allegations but were supported by concrete findings after thorough investigation, the NSF also said. “Yet, the denial of prosecution raises serious questions: What is the Government of India trying to hide? Why is justice being withheld despite the gravity of the crime? By denying prosecution sanction, the government appears to be protecting the guilty rather than upholding the rule of law,” it added.
Also read | Naga Hoho Condemns Supreme Court Ruling on Oting Massacre, Calls for Justice and Unity
The NSF then said the Naga people have waited in vain for accountability in this horrific incident. The Supreme Court’s interim stay of the proceedings in July 2022 and the eventual closure of the case despite the SIT’s findings erodes the trust that the Naga people place in the law of the land and democratic institutions, the NSF further said. The Oting incident is not merely an isolated act of violence but a reflection of systemic injustice that has persisted under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, it added.
The NSF representation then said, “AFSPA, which has long been opposed by the people of the Northeast, continues to provide blanket immunity to armed forces personnel, effectively sanctioning extrajudicial killings and grave violations of human rights”. It also said this law has no place in a democratic society. The NSF said it is time the Government of India revokes AFSPA from the Naga homeland. “The Oting incident stands as a glaring example of how AFSPA is used to shield perpetrators of violence against innocent civilians, deepening the wounds of conflict and alienation” it stated.
The Naga student body then condemned the “shoddy intelligence” that led to the botched operation. The NSF said the wrongful identification of civilians shows a serious lapse in intelligence that has cost precious lives. The intelligence failure must be thoroughly investigated, and those responsible must be held accountable, it stated.
Also read | GNF Condemns SC’s Decision to Terminate Criminal Proceedings Against Army in Oting Massacre Case
In light of these “grave injustices”, the NSF demanded prosecution sanctions against the accused personnel of the 21 Para (SF) involved in the “Oting massacre”. It further demanded full accountability and transparency from the Union Government regarding the botched intelligence operation. The NSF also demanded immediate revocation of AFSPA from the “Naga homeland” and the Northeast.
If these demands are not addressed, the NSF cautioned that it will be left with no option but to launch democratic agitations to fight for the justice that has been denied to the victims and their families. “The Naga people will not remain silent in the face of such gross injustices. The Naga people demand justice, and we urge the Government of India to stand on the side of justice and accountability.
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