After a botched army operation which saw death of 14 civilians in Nagaland, the victims’ families have refused compensation by the government, demanding those guilty be brought to justice and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act AFSPA is removed from northeast.
Six civilians, said to be workers in a coal mine, were killed in an ambush by security forces in an area between Tiru and Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district while returning home in a vehicle on December 4.
The security forces, as stated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, ‘mistook’ these villagers for militants. Later, seven other civilians were shot dead by the security forces at Oting, as a crowd attacked the security forces.
The violence also caused the death of one soldier.
Shattering the relative calm in Nagaland, the killings and the subsequent violence put a question mark on peace talks. The killing of civilians has been condemned by local civil society organisations, Naga outfits, national political parties, and the state government itself.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio had said AFSPA must be removed as it was the cause of unrest and pain in his state. Speaking at the funeral service for those who were killed, he called the law a black stain on the image of the country.
“AFSPA gives powers to the Army to arrest civilians without any arrest warrant, raid houses and also kill people. But there is no action against the security forces. They have created a law and order situation,” the Chief Minister said.
The Nagaland government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 500,000 as compensation to each of the families of the 14 people killed, and Rs 50,000 to those injured.