Global Naga Forum (GNF) and Wesean Naga Student Union (WNSU), a unit of the Wesean Student Federation (WSF), have both expressed strong objection against the recent ruling of the Supreme Court which had quashed criminal proceedings against 30 personnel of the 21 Paras(Special Forces) accused of killing 13 innocent civilians at Oting, in Mon on December 4,2021.
Global Naga Forum (GNF) has expressed strong opposition to the September 17 ruling by the Supreme Court of India, in dismissing criminal charges against 30 Army personnel of the 21 Paras(Special Forces) involved in the December 4, 2021 Oting massacre.
GNF convenor Chuba Ozukum and co-convenor Prof. Rosemary Dzüvichu maintained that the tragic incident which claimed the lives of 14 innocent civilians, continues to haunt the Naga community, symbolizing the enduring violence and injustices perpetuated under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) of 1958.
GNF said the Oting massacre is viewed as part of a disturbing pattern of brutality against the Naga people, alongside other historical atrocities such as the 1994 Mokokchung rape and pillage; the 1995 Kohima massacre, and the killing of students in Wuzu. These events, it said, have deeply scarred the community, reinforcing a sense of dehumanization and oppression.
GNF reiterated that the Supreme Court’s decision to quash the FIRs in the Oting massacre case was a blow to justice for the victims and their families. It said the quashing of First Information Reports (FIRs) against the accused soldiers sends a troubling message that justice is inaccessible to the victims and their families.
GNF claimed that the ruling undermines the credibility of India’s judicial system and erodes public confidence in the rule of law, especially in cases of human rights violations.
Further GNF also called on the Nagaland State Government to urgently file a review petition in the Supreme Court, urging the court to reconsider its decision in light of the serious human rights abuses that took place during the Oting massacre.
GNF asserted that justice must be served for the victims and their families, and that the state government must uphold its responsibility to protect the dignity and rights of the Naga people.
Further GNF has called on Civil Society Organizations, Tribal apex bodies, human rights defenders, and concerned citizens to unite in protest. GNF has reiterated for a collective call against AFSPA and urge the Government of India to repeal the controversial law, arguing that it has no place in a democratic society. The Forum also called for meaningful dialogue towards an Indo-Naga political solution, emphasizing that the cycle of violence and impunity must end.
WNSU: Wesean Naga Student Union (WNSU), a unit of the Wesean Student Federation (WSF), has expressed opposition to the Supreme Court’s decision to quash criminal proceedings against army personnel involved in the Oting massacre.
The massacre, which occurred on December 4, 2021, saw personnel of the 21 Paras(Special Forces) killing 14 civilians in Oting village, Nagaland, during an anti-insurgency operation.
In a joint statement, WNSU president David Lowang and general secretary Kibwanger Jamir opined the ruling not just a legal failure but an endorsement of state-sponsored brutality.
They said that the Oting massacre was not an anomaly but a part of a long history of violence and oppression inflicted on the people of Wesea,.
Further the two also alleged that the India had systematically treated Wesean lives as disposable, drawing parallels to other violent incidents in Wesea, such as the Tiru and Malom massacres.
The WNSU said the Supreme Court’s ruling reflected a deep-seated marginalization of Weseans and the unchecked impunity enjoyed by the Indian Army and Assam Rifles. They emphasized that the Oting massacre was not accidental, with eyewitnesses confirming that soldiers not only killed civilians but also attempted to hide the bodies to cover up their actions. According to the WNSU, the crime would have been concealed if not for the courage of local villagers who exposed the truth.
They said it was a reality of Wesea- of violence followed by lies, cover-ups, and systemic denial of justice. The two also accused the centre of using draconian laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to shield the military from accountability for human rights abuses in Nagaland and the broader Wesean region.
Highlighting a recent incident where an Assam Rifles personnel allegedly assaulted the president of the Angami Students’ Union, the WNSU leaders argued that such acts of violence continued with impunity due to AFSPA’s protections.
They accused the government of glorifying perpetrators of violence against Weseans while treating calls for justice with indifference. The WNSU also condemned the government of India’s continued exploitation of Wesean land and resources, accusing it of fostering oppression and erasing the dignity of the people. They asked how could there be peace “when the government refuses to see us as equals and treats our land as something to be plundered?”
Further the Union demanded immediate accountability for the Oting massacre and other atrocities committed against the people of Wesea and warned that peace in Nagaland would only be possible once justice is served. They also called for unity among Weseans to resist oppression.