People of Oting and neighbouring villages march to the December 4 incident site on December 20, 2021 demanding justice for the victims. (Morung File Photo)
Mon, March 31 (MExN): The Konyak Union (KU), Mon headquarters has urged the Government of Nagaland to expedite the process for construction of the Martyrs’ Park commemorating the victims of the 2021 Oting incident, issuing a caution that it will proceed with construction at the allotted site and will not be held responsible if any untoward incident occurs.
The 2021 Oting incident in Mon district remains a “profound instance of security action that severely eroded trust and sense of safety among the local populace,” the Konyak Union stated in a press release. It recollected that the incident involved killing of 13 civilians by Indian security forces followed by subsequent violence and indiscriminate firing by the Assam Rifles in Mon, resulting in the death of one more innocent public, taking the toll to 14 lives.
Following the incident, the KU said it was compelled to propose to the district administration to procure a site permit for construction of the Martyrs’ Park, located adjacent to the Assam Rifles camp, as a remembrance to honour the lost innocent souls and to remind security agencies to shun such operations under draconian laws.
After obtaining approval from the Home Department, Government of Nagaland, the district administration issued a site permit on January 18, 2022, the union stated.
However, the 42 Assam Rifles in Mon has raised objections to the construction of the park, allegedly claiming that the allotted site falls under land leased to them. The union stated that the district administration has officially clarified that “the lease deed of Assam Rifles land in Mon town is not a registered lease and does not hold any legal validity.”
“The intention of the Indian security is nothing but they do not want their shameful deed to be displayed, on the contrary it is very much needed by the community as a sincere reminder to the generation to come,” the KU said.
The union further stated that it had reminded the district authority on January 23, 2026, to clear the matter within a month, and the same was forwarded to the Commissioner of Nagaland on February 10, 2026, but has yielded no result so far.
Therefore, the KU has urged the Government of Nagaland to expedite the process and do the needful at the earliest, after which the union will go ahead in constructing the said park at the allotted site.
“If any untoward incident happens while initiating the action, the union will not be held responsible,” it stated.
The union has also copied the communication to the Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister, Nagaland, and the Home Commissioner, Nagaland, “for necessary action.”
