Manas Dasgupta
NEW DELHI, Dec 5: In a case of mistaken identity, at least 13 civilians were killed by armed forces posted to act against insurgents while a soldier died in return firing by angry mob in Tiru in Mon district in Nagaland late Saturday evening, official sources said on Sunday. Dozens of civilians and a few members of the armed forces also sustained severe gun shot wounds.
The army has owned up the responsibility for the blunder and assured the family members of the civilians killed in the “operation” of taking appropriate action against the concerned personnel. The Nagaland Government has ordered a high-level probe into the incident by a Special Investigation Team (SIT).
The government has said a Court of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the incident. “Officially, ten people have been declared dead…there may be more,” Y Patton, Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister of Nagaland, said. “They are saying it is a case of mistaken identity, but I cannot confirm until I reach the spot and find out,” he added.
The Assam Riffles’ 3 Corps headquartered on the outskirts of the State’s Dimapur town issued a statement on Sunday, owning responsibility for the killing of the civilians who the army thought were the members of the banned National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang-Yung Aung) and assured “appropriate action.”
“Based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents, a specific operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon district, Nagaland. The incident and its aftermath are deeply regretted,” the statement said.
“The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law,” it said, adding that a few soldiers were severely injured and one soldier succumbed to his injuries.
According to members of the Konyak Union, representing the dominant Konyak community in the district, some labourers were returning home to Oting village in a pick-up van from a coal mine in Tiru area 15 km away.
“The armed forces ambushed their vehicle and killed six on the spot. Seven locals died later. At least 11 others are battling injuries while two are missing,” a union member said.
The labourers come home every Saturday from the mine, spend Sunday with their families and return to work on Monday. This has been a routine for a long time, he said.
A local police official said the troops had laid in wait for members of the outlawed NSCN (Khaplang-Yung Aung) but fired at the pick-up van. The incident enraged the locals who attacked the troops and set two of their vehicles on fire. One soldier was killed in this attack during which the troops fired at the locals in self-defence killing seven more civilians, officials said.
An Army officer said there was specific input of movement of NSCN (K-YA) cadres in a vehicle of specific colour and type following which the area was cordoned off. But the civilians came in a similar vehicle and “did not cooperate” when asked to stop.
The troops fired at the vehicle instinctively. “Six civilians were killed and two injured,” he said. As the troops waited for the police to arrive, locals gathered and attacked them. The officer claimed a soldier was killed and three others were injured in firing from the crowd. Seven civilians were killed when the troops fired in self-defence, he added.
“The unfortunate incident leading to killing of civilians… is highly condemnable. Condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery of those injured. High level SIT will investigate and justice delivered as per the law of the land. Appeal for peace from all sections,” Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio tweeted.
Expressing anguish at the incident, Home Minister Amit Shah also took to Twitter expressing condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives and assuring justice. Local organisations have demanded action against the guilty personnel and threatened to approach national and international human rights organisations. Members of the victims’ families refused to receive their bodies if justice is not delivered fast.
Reacting to the incident, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) announced the withdrawal of six tribes it represents from the annual Hornbill Festival ongoing at Kisama near State capital Kohima. The ENPO had a few months ago adopted a resolution against bloodshed in its area. “How can we dance at the festival when our people are getting killed?” the ENPO said in a statement.
The ENPO said six tribes of Eastern Nagaland will abstain from participating in the festival. “It has to be understood by all concerned that this order/move is not against the state government, but to show resentment against the security forces who have committed this heinous crime, and to show solidarity of the 6 tribes,” the organisation said in a statement.
Political parties too condemned the incident. Chief minister Rio’s National Democratic Progressive Party (NDPP), the main alliance member in the current government, said “such random and dastardly acts” were “unimaginable at a time when the Indo-Naga issue was nearing conclusion.” The statement requested the central government to repeal the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, calling it “unnecessary and redundant” in the state’s present context.
The Nagaland BJP chief Temjen Imna Along said Saturday’s incident was “tantamount to war crimes during peace time” and “amounted to genocide” especially since the Centre was in talks with Naga groups to settle political issues. “There can never be any justification for such kind of massacres targeting innocent civilians. The innocent victims were labourers returning from a hard day’s work and were not armed… It is therefore tantamount to war crimes during peacetime and amounts to summary execution as well as genocide,” the statement said.
West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee too demanded a thorough investigation into incident. Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured. We must ensure a thorough probe into the incident and ensure that all victims get justice!”
Following the incident, mobile internet was suspended in Mon district on Saturday until further orders. Sources said the situation remains tense in the district. The incident was also condemned by local civil society organisations. The government said two minutes of silence and prayer will be observed at Kisama, all locations of the Naga Heritage Village and at all events of the Hornbill Festival in “remembrance and solidarity of the dead in Mon.”