IT News
Imphal, Sept 20:
The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has expressed deep indignation and concern over the recent closure of criminal proceedings against personnel from the 21 Para Special Forces (SF) involved in the killing of 14 civilians in Oting, Mon district, Nagaland, on December 4, 2021. In a memorandum submitted to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the NSF criticized the Supreme Court’s decision on September 17, 2024, to close the FIRs without prosecution, calling it a continuation of the “gross injustice” faced by the Naga people.
The NSF voiced its dismay at the Government of India’s refusal to grant prosecution sanction against the accused personnel, despite the Nagaland Government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) having filed a chargesheet with substantial evidence against 30 members of the 21 Para SF. The memorandum questioned the government’s motives, accusing it of protecting the guilty and withholding justice, despite the seriousness of the crime.
The Naga students highlighted the erosion of trust in democratic institutions following the Supreme Court’s interim stay on the case in July 2022 and its eventual closure, despite the SIT’s findings. The NSF further connected the Oting incident to systemic injustices under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, which it condemned as a law that sanctions extrajudicial killings and human rights violations. The federation reiterated its longstanding demand for the repeal of AFSPA from the Naga homeland and the broader Northeast region, stating that the law has no place in a democratic society.
Additionally, the NSF criticized the intelligence failures that led to the botched operation in Oting, calling for a thorough investigation and accountability for those responsible. The group warned that if their demands for justice, prosecution of the accused, and the revocation of AFSPA are not addressed, they would be forced to launch democratic agitations.
The NSF’s demands include prosecution sanction for the accused personnel, full transparency regarding the intelligence failure, and the immediate repeal of AFSPA from the region. They emphasized that the Naga people will not remain silent in the face of such grave injustices, calling on the Government of India to prioritize justice and accountability.
