Team News Riveting
Kohima, December 5
In a tragic incident, 15 villagers were killed in a firing opened by the security forces near Oting village in Mon district of Nagaland. A security force jawan also died in the incident.
The security forces planned an ambush on the Tiru-Oting road Saturday evening on the villagers, mistaking them to be militants acting on a tip-off. The incident sparked off violence in the area as irked villagers cordoned off the security forces and attacked them.
The jawans had to open fire at the mob in a ‘self-defence’ that left about 8 villagers injured. The mob also set many vehicles of security forces on fire. The Army said one of its jawans, who suffered injuries in the incident, had succumbed. “The security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries,” the Army said.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio took to Twitter sending condolences to families of the deceased and wishing those injured a speedy recovery. He also informed that a High-Level SIT will investigate the incident and justice will be delivered to the people.
The Chief Minister has urged people to maintain peace and harmony in the state.
Union Minister Amit Shah also expressed his deepest condolences to those who lost their lives and informed of the high-level SIT constituted by the state to probe the incident.
According to local newspapers, the 3 corps of the Indian Army, headquartered at Dimapur in Nagaland, has issued a statement saying that it ‘regrets’ the “unfortunate loss of lives” at Oting village in the state’s Mon district on Saturday evening.
“The incident and its aftermath is deeply regretted,” the Indian Army’s 3 corps said in its statement. It added that the incident and loss of lives are being put under investigation.
“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,” stated the Army. On Sunday, it ordered a Court of Inquiry to look into the killing of several civilians during an anti-insurgency operation.
The Army clarified that security forces were present at Tiru village near Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district for a “specific operation”.
“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 statement added.
