Urges MoD to grant prosecution sanction
Tuensang, May 10 (MExN): The Eastern Nagaland people Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO) asserted that its decision to temporarily withdraw ‘non-cooperation’ towards the India Security Forces should not be taken as a sign that it has given up the fight for justice for the victims of the Oting and Mon killings in December last year.
Instead, it urged the Central Government Ministry of Defence to “grant prosecution sanction as sought by the State Government, and based on the prosecution sanction, the culprit should be booked under relevant court for trial and bring the action taken in public domain,” along with extending compensation to the families and those who have sustained life-long injuries.
On Tuesday, the ENPO informed through a press release that it had held a joint consultative meeting at the Konyak Union Hall in Mon Town during which its President R Tsapikiu Sangtam categorically made the stand clear that, “The people of Eastern Nagaland have not given up our stand, and with the support of other Naga brethren we shall continue to fight for justice against the barbaric acts meted out to the innocent civilians on the fateful day of December 4 and 5, 2021 at Oting village and Mon town respectively by the Indian Security forces.”
It maintained that the non-cooperation which was initially declared on December 14, 2021 at Longleng town was temporarily lifted on April 28 “to pave way for smooth physical interaction with the Government of India and for arriving at a desired conclusion at the earliest.”
“In the event of delay in delivering justice such as sought, the ENPO shall take its own course of action,” the press release stated.
Investigation into Mon firing incident complete: Army Chief
Meanwhile, the PTI News agency reported late on Monday that the investigation into the December 4 firing incident in Nagaland's Mon district has been completed and the report is now undergoing legal scrutiny, citing Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande.
The report stated that Gen Pande, while interacting with a group of journalists in New Delhi, “also suggested that standard operating procedures and drills could be refined based on the findings of the report.”
Referring to a high-level inquiry ordered by the Army, Gen Pande reportedly stated that “The investigation into the Mon incident has been completed. The report has been submitted and presently the legal scrutiny of the report is taking place,” according to PTI.
“Just like in the past, if we find some personnel who have not followed the standard operating procedures and guidelines, action as per the due process of military law will be taken,” it quoted Gen Pande as saying.
The Army chief reportedly indicated that the report delved into aspects such as a revision of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and refining the drills and suggested that the process of addressing shortcomings would be based on the findings of the report, as per the PTI report.
