Independent probe by competent agency
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Declares non-cooperation with armed forces
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Konyak Union (KU) has urged President of India for a special investigation team (SIT), under a competent investigating agency, to conduct an independent inquiry into the killing of 14 civilians by security forces at Oting village on December 4 and 5 and include two members from Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation in the team.
KU in a press release also demanded identification of all army personnel involved in the incident and book them, besides sharing in public domain the action taken against the erring personnel within 30 days.
Hardening its posture further, KU also demanded that 27 Assam Rifles be immediately vacated from Mon district for failing to provide security to the citizens and also immediately repeal Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act from the entire North-eastern region.
Meanwhile, KU declared non-cooperation against the Indian armed forces and announced a seven-day public mourning across Mon district.
KU also strictly asked security forces to stop patrolling in Konyak region during the seven-day public mourning period. It warned that if the security forces fail to abide by its decision, they would be held entirely responsible for any untoward incident that might occur.
Announcing that December 4 and 5 would be observed as “Black Day” every year to mark the incident, the union further accused the Indian security forces of defying the ENPO declaration of December 18, 2007 that forbade bloodshed in ENPO area.
Noting that the incident seemed to be a complete intelligence failure, the union also suspected it to be calculated attempt to target innocent civilians, pointing out that it could not be termed as mistaken identity at all.
Terming it as the worst premeditated carnage of modern times and in the history of Konyak tribe, the union asserted that the so called “Friends of Hill People” committed the worst crime of modern times that could not be justified in any way.
It claimed that the deceased were simple villagers and had no connection with any element to arouse slightest of doubts in the paramilitary force in any manner.
“This is an act of atrocity beyond reasoning. No explanation can justify this heinous act of deliberate crime against humanity,” it stated.
Condemning the act of barbarism on innocent citizens in strongest terms, KU declared that it would stand firm against the perpetrators and demand immediate probe and book the perpetrators up to the highest rank in civil court.