Nagpur: 14 civilians were killed after 21 Para special forces of Army opened fire in Mon district of Nagaland near Assam border, as per the state police. An FIR has been filed against the Army unit.
The FIR filed against the army unit alleges that it was the ‘intention’ of the security forces to murder and injure the civilians of the village. Of the 14 killed, 13 were villagers and one was a soldier after a counter-insurgency operation went horribly off script.
Nagaland DGP T John Longkumer filed a report on another incident of violence that killed one civilian. Longkumer claims that the violence broke out after there was a confusion in the mass funeral service of those who were killed in the firing incident on Sunday. “No clear announcement was made on the postponement of the funeral service. This led to confusion among the crowd that had gathered for the funeral services at the Helipad in Mon town,” he said.
The angry mob had marched towards the Assam Rifles post in Tahmman ward and started pelting stones and vandalizing properties. On Saturday evening, security forces had opened fire on civilians in Mon district in two consecutive incidents.
The Nagaland government on Monday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of 13 people who were killed in firing by the security forces. Chief minister Neiphiu Rio paid a visit to the district on Monday. Rio has also demanded the removal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act or the AFSPA. The issue has also been raised in the Rajya Sabha.
Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge in a parliament said, “There has been a very serious and most tragic development in which six innocent civilians were killed on December 4 by security forces in Mon district of Nagaland mistaking them for militants.”
