In a major development, Department of Military Affairs, Union Ministry of Defence, has refused to accord sanction to prosecute all 30 accused security force personnel for their alleged role in the Oting massacre on December 5, 2021.
This was communicated to the court of District & Session Judge, Mon by the crime cell of the police station and Special Investigation Team (SIT), a press note from the Police HQs stated.
The prosecution sanction from the Centre is required for initiating any proceedings against security force personnel for any action taken by them while discharging their duties under Sec 197(2) CrPC and Sec 6 of the AFSPA.
Following wives of the accused security force personnel moving the Supreme Court seeking a stay on the proceedings in the case, the apex court had already vide an interim order on July 19, 2022, stayed any further proceedings in the case.
After the killing of civilians at Oting on December 5, 2021 by the security personnel, an SIT of Nagaland Police was constituted.
After completion of the investigation, the SIT had on March 24, 2022 sought sanction for prosecution from the Department of Military Affairs, MoD, against the accused the accused security force personnel involved in the incident. As per procedure, upon completion of investigation pending receipt of sanction for prosecution, the charge sheet in the case was filed in the District and Session Court, Mon, against the accused persons on May 30, 2022.
