Mass funeral service for 14 killed by security forces in Mon, Rio demands AFSPA repeal
Among those who attended the mass funeral service included Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief minister Y Patton, a host of other ministers and MLAs, civil society members and student leaders, besides the villagers.
KOHIMA:
Hundreds of people thronged the mass funeral service at Mon helipad ground on December 6 to pay their last respect to the 14 villagers killed by the security forces.
Among those who attended the mass funeral service included Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy chief minister Y Patton, a host of other ministers and MLAs, civil society members and student leaders, besides the villagers.
Rio laid wreath on the coffins of the deceased and demanded that the Armed Force (Special Power) Act (AFSPA) be scrapped from Nagaland.
“Paid my last respects to the innocent lives who were killed at Oting. Their sacrifices will not be forgotten. We are together in this. We stand in solidarity with the people. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls RIP,” Rio tweeted.
He said Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed the AFSPA and that it should be repealed.
Rio said India is the largest democracy and this draconian law should be removed from the country. “There are many laws that can be handled but this law (AFSPA) has blackened the image of our country,” he said.
Rio announced to provide ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to those killed in the incident and Rs 50,000 each to the injured.
He also said the central government agreed to provide Rs 11 lakh each to the deceased families and a government job to a member of each family.
Several organisations held candlelight service on Sunday night in honour of those killed and demanded repeal of AFSPA. Several political leaders, civil society organisations, tribal hohos (bodies), churches and NGOs condemned the killing of the innocent civilians.
The Naga Students Federation (NSF) and civil society organisations imposed total shutdown of different durations across the state in protest against the killings on Monday. The NSF imposed the shutdown for six hours from 6 am to noon in all the Naga-inhabited areas.
At around 4.10 pm on Saturday, security forces, reportedly 21 Para Special Force based in Assam, ambushed a pick-up truck carrying eight villagers in Oting village area while they were returning from their day’s work at a coal mine in Tiru village. Six of the villagers were killed on the spot and two were critically injured in the firing.
The security forces reportedly mistook the innocent villagers for insurgents from Yung Aung faction of the NSCN (K), who are said to be active in that area.
In the subsequent violence that followed that night, the security forces gunned down seven more villagers. Altogether 14 civilians were seriously injured in the firing by the security forces. Three vehicles belonging to the Special Force were burnt down by the villagers that night.
On Sunday, an angry mob attacked the Assam Rifles post located at Thamnan ward in Mon town and burnt the areas, including three buildings, within the camp. The Assam Rifles personnel retaliated by firing at the mob in which one protester of Chi village was killed and six others sustained bullet injuries.
The Mon district administration on December 5 imposed prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC in Mon district to maintain law and order.
The Nagaland government suspended the cultural activities on the sixth day of the ongoing 10-day Hornbill Festival at Kisama on Monday. It decided that the events at the festival will begin with two minutes of silence and prayer every day as a mark of respect and solidarity for the deceased and other victims.
The government said while the events at the Hornbill Festival will continue in the remaining days, the sympathy, solidarity and prayers of the entire Naga community are with the families and loved ones of the deceased.
TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp: CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.
