The United Naga Council (UNC), Liangmai Naga Council, Poumai Naga Hoho Nagaland, Naga Women Union, Naga Scholars Association in the strongest term condemned the barbaric act of killing peaceful Naga civilians by the security forces on December 4, 2021, in Mon district, Nagaland.
The UNC said that it was “most unfortunate” in the recent history of the Nagas. “Such a condemnable act of terrorism caused upon the innocent villagers is in no way pardonable under any circumstances,” said the UNC.
“Today’s insane action of the security forces critically unfolded their hypocrisy to the slogan of Friends of the Hill People,” the UNC pointed out. It further said that Nagas need to rethink “their intentional attitudes of cruelty and savagery behaviour”.
Also strongly condemning the incident, the Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC-M), said that it was “gruesome murders” perpetrated by 21 para troopers against the fifteen unarmed innocent civilians”.
The Liangmai body said that “this dastardly act of the army committed against its own citizens is beyond human tolerance and unforgivable”. It further said that such acts of cold blooded murder carried out against its own innocent civilians by the security forces on December 4, 2021, at Oting village of Mon district, Nagaland, has already proved that Indian Army can kill anyone with impunity as long as there is Armed Forces Power Act (AFSPA, 1958) in the Northeast region”.
LNC then appealed to the “concerned authority” to book the perpetrators and deliver justice at the earliest . The LNC also shared the grief and pains of the bereaved families, relatives near and dear ones and also “prays and wishes for speedy recovery to all the injured civilians”.
The Poumai Naga Hoho Nagaland while commending strongly the barbaric act of the security forces said it is shocked to learn about the brutal killing of several civilians by the Indian security forces at Oting village in Mon district on Saturday evening. “We stand in solidarity with the Konyak brothers and sisters in this time of grief,” it said.
Also read: Get to know the official report on Oting incident of Dec 4 & 5
The Naga Scholars’ Association (NSA) stated that it was deeply grieved and outraged by the barbaric act committed by the Indian Special Force, the 21 Para Commando, on the 4th and 5th of December, 2021 at Tiru-Oting road and Mon headquarter, Mon district, Nagaland, which resulted in the massacre of 14 innocent Naga civilians. The Association strongly condemns this heinous crime which has trampled on the dignity, respect, and honour of the Naga people. The callous strategy of viewing the region within the military framework by disregarding the democratic and peaceful processes of engagement and understanding, has not only often led to the loss of many precious lives, property, and dignity but also paved the way for the intensification of the conflict.
It said that the Indian armed forces, operating under the auspices of the Armed Forces Special Powers Acts (AFSPA) has yet again orchestrated its belligerent treatment upon the Naga people, with the Indian Parliament granting legal impunity for all of their horrific deeds since The killing spree on the pretext of maintaining public order, based on a suspected case of “mistaken identity” is ironic that plainly belies and contradicts the stand to protect the people. The conduct exposes a covert but pervasive human rights violation that is sanctioned by a skewed democratic law. An incident of this nature by the Indian armed forces sends a troubling message to the Nagas, implying the forces have carte blanche to kill. The Nagas have already endured enough suffering under the armed forces’ stringent and draconian power. “We, the Naga Scholars’ Association, demand that AFSPA be immediately repealed,” it added.
The statement of NSA also said, the irreversible loss of the victims to the bereaved families and the members of Oting village has deeply affected our conscience. NSA stated that the perpetrators must take cognizance in comprehending that civility cannot be obtained in exchange for military might; and, the moral fabric and inner sanctum of any given authority that aims for peace and harmony are not on the horizon where bullets reign. To delay the implementation of the appropriate legal conduct of code is a betrayal of the already fragile trust of the Nagas. NSA has demanded immediate action against the security personnel involved in the violent inhuman killings and that justice be swiftly delivered.
The Naga Women’s Union (NWU) said it strongly condemned the horrific incident of December 4 at Oting Village. NWU stated that the barbaric act of Indian armed forces, where, 16 Naga innocent civilians were brutally shot and killed, is a blatant violation of basic The Indian security forces, citing as an intelligence failure is a lame excuse and in no way justified. Such draconian act should not be tolerated at any cost, it added.
The Union demanded the government of India to investigate thoroughly and give befitting punishment of immediate suspension of the Unit Commanding Officer and those personnel responsible for such heinous crime. NWU stated that it shared the grief and pains of the bereaved families as it prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured at the unfortunate incident.