Army grants SIT access to security forces involved in Oting incident

DIMAPUR:

The army on Decemeber 29 granted permission to the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Nagaland government to probe the killing of 13 civilians in firing by the security forces at Oting in Mon disttrict.

The killings 13 civilians in an ambush by 21 Para Security Forces at Oting on December 4 and another person in Mon town in firing by the Assam Rifles in subsequent violence that followed on December 5 sparked widespread protests and anger in Nagaland.

Meanwhile, the court of inquiry constituted by the Army to investigate the Oting killings visited the site of the incident on Wednesday. The inquiry team, headed by a Major General rank officer, inspected the site to understand the circumstances which led to the incident, a defence release said.

The team also took along the witnesses for better understanding of the situation and how the events unfolded. Later, the team went to Tizit police station in the district under which Oting village falls to meet cross sections of the society including civilians, police personnel and doctors who treated the injured for obtaining valuable information pertaining to the incident, the release said.

Quoting the army, the release said the court of inquiry is progressing expeditiously and that all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest.

Earlier, the army had requested, through public notices, any person having information on the incident to directly share it, either by being present before the inquiry team at Tizit police station today or share any input, photo or video related to the incident with them via phone, SMS or Whatsapp messenger at +916033924571. The information may also be shared in person to the inquiry team at Dinjan military station in Assam.

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