Photo Courtesy Social Media
Dimapur, December 8 (MExN): The statement by Union Home Minister, Amit Shah in the Lok Sabha on the recent killing in Nagaland has drawn much criticism. In a statement during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, in New Delhi on December 6, 2021, Amit Shah said that the vehicle, carrying the six civilians who were gunned down in an area between Tiru and Oting village under Mon district on December 4 evening, was “signaled to stop but it tried to flee.”
‘Irresponsible statement’
The NSCN (IM) has taken a strong exception to the “irresponsible” statement of the Union Home Minister. “Amit Shah’s statement comes when the whole Nagas are in a state of mourning in solidarity with our Naga brethren belonging to the Konyak community in Mon district,” the NSCN (IM) stated through the MIP.
“In a situation like this, Amit Shah was expected to show political maturity and practical statesmanship in order to cool down the socio-political upheavals. Ironically, he poured fuel to the burning issue by standing behind the Para Commandos under his command with his fictional sleuth stories supporting the Para Commandos for their heinous act of killings. This is like rubbing salt and chili in the wounds of the Nagas. Truth be told that there was no signal to stop the pick-up van of the coal laborers as mentioned by Amit Shah in Parliament,” it expressed regret.
Citing the report that one of the survivors, Sheiwang who is undergoing treatment at the Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh, said, “They shot right at us, no signal to stop, we did not flee,” it asserted, “There is nothing to doubt that it was a botched ambush with deliberate mission to kill and nothing to do with ‘credible’ intelligence of NSCN movement in the area. Nothing can be far from truth that it was something executed deliberately.”
“What is most sinister is when the Army was found stripping naked the dead bodies of the Naga civilians with military dress to give the impression in the eyes of the media and the world that they have gunned down the militants. Luckily, they were caught red handed by the villagers before they succeed through their plan,” it alleged.
Taking its stand on the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, the NSCN (IM) said, “This notorious AFSPA has given the Indian security forces the license to shoot and kill anyone on mere suspicion.”
“We Nagas have endured the insults heaped on our human dignity for too long. The Nagas have had the bitter taste of this act on numerous occasions and it has spilled enough blood. Blood and political talks cannot go together. The Nagas can no longer be made the laughing stock in the eyes of the world. No political talks will be meaningful under the shadow of AFSPA. Let human dignity take control and be made an integral part of the Naga political peace process,” it appealed.
It also cited the Oting killing as “a threat to the Nagas’ longing for Naga political solution” and added, “Therefore, placed under this compelling situation, NSCN put on record that ‘enough is enough’ the atrocities and tortures meted out to the Naga people by the Indian soldiers.”
To the Government of India, the NSCN (IM) said that if GoI wants to do justice to the Naga people, AFSPA must be immediately withdrawn and investigation for proper prosecution must be immediately constituted. ‘Investigation must be independent and transparent. Prosecution must be done for justice for the people in general and the victims in particular. It must also be transparent so that scrutiny from any quarter must sustain.’
“Thus, the Indian soldiers are emboldened beyond measures and they have been treating the Nagas like sub-human beings without fear of any scrutiny of the court of law. Therefore, this time round, the Naga people expect that the judgment must be transparent and must be swiftly delivered. This is the only way to establish absolute fidelity between the Naga people and Government of India,” it stated.
‘Attempt to mislead the nation’
“Union Home Minister Amit Shah has admitted in Parliament that it was a case of mistaken identity for which we have lost 14 precious lives. UHM intended to escape from the glaring truth by alleging that the pickup truck refused to stop. The statement is uncalled for and a brazen attempt to mislead the nation,” NPCC, President K Therie.
Therie in a press release stated that, firstly, if it was a case of mistaken identity, they should spell out who they were looking for when the entire resistant Naga forces have signed Ceasefires with GoI and the only remaining are the unarmed civilians. “We would like to hear from the UHM,” he stated.
Secondly, it was alleged the pickup truck with 8 occupants comprising of mining laborers travelling home to Oting village, refused to stop when signaled and attempted to speed away. “However, the survivor accounts that there was no signal given to stop the vehicle but rather they were fired upon indiscriminately without any warning. Moreover, the ambush was laid in a stretch of road which is a kucha dirt road with no avenue to “speed away”,” Therie said.
The driver of the pickup truck is also its owner who also owns a Backhoe in the mines. He is a small contractor and a peaceful civilian. The remaining occupants were all working as laborers in the mines.
The congress chief also said, it is alleged the 21 Para (SF) based at Jorhat massacred the 13 at Tiru valley on 4th Dec 2021 evening. “Since law and order is a state subject, the intelligence report should first be in the knowledge of Chief Minister and Home Minister of Nagaland. Therefore, the operation was conducted with the permission of CM. If not, the Government should identify who authorized the 21 Para (SF).”
He demanded that the culprits of this dastardly act must be arrested without any further delay for their “brazen attempts to cover up the massacre is already well known.”
On the AFSPA which “has been extended from time to time,” Therie said, “On no occasion has the state Government adopted or invoked the Act. Prior to ceasefire, we have lost thousands of lives and also many politicians were assassinated and attempted upon. When we have resisted before GoI, they have always answered that this is for the safety and security of the people albeit never mentioning integrity. We have not been able to cite peaceful situation in support of our claim. Even after Ceasefire, regional political party led by N. Rio at the helm of affairs for 18 years could not take up seriously. After the most unfortunate loss of 14 precious lives, he has now demanded repeal of AFSPA 1958.”
“Since all the factions are under Ceasefire Agreements and negotiations have concluded, there is no further requirement of AFSPA 1958. There is no longer any justification as to why the AFSPA 1958 should continue and therefore should be repealed immediately,” he reasoned.
‘Home Minister must apologize’
The Janata Dal (U) Northeast Executive Council on Wednesday demanded that “Home Minister must apologize to the nation for the concocted statement given to the representatives of the nations.”
The party said that the speaker must also impugn the statement of the Home Minster so that the departed souls can rest in peace. Further, instead of giving mere regrets, the Home Minister must initiate the process for repeal of the draconian AFSPA which is the common appeal of the people of NE India.
It said that instead of unconditional apology and regret so as to heal the souls of the deaths and comfort their near and dear ones, “the Home Minister had chosen to tow the lines of his subordinate Army hierarchies who intends to still explore escape routes to cover the heinous crimes perpetrated on the innocent civilians by the designated operational force.”
It also demanded that the erring soldiers should not be only court-martialed but further tried in civil court as an exemplary for time to come.
