Oting Students’ Union (OSU), Naga Students’ Federation (NSF), NSCN (I-M) and Naga Hoho (NH) have expressed resentment over the September 17 Supreme Court’s ruling, closing criminal proceedings against 30 Indian Army personnel involved in the Oting massacre of December 4, 2021.
OSU: The Oting Students Union (OSU) has expressed deep disappointment over the Supreme Court’s recent decision to close proceedings against 30 army personnel from the 21 Paras (Special Forces) involved in the Oting massacre. In a joint statement by OSU President Noknai Konyak, Vice President Topong Konyak, and General Secretary Honyeih Konyak, the ruling was described as “disheartening” and a grave concern for justice.
OSU received the court’s decision with profound shock, stating that the massacre, which claimed the lives of 13 innocent civilians in Oting, Mon district, Nagaland, on December 4, 2021, remains a painful scar on the community. The statement emphasized that the ruling is an insult to the memory of the victims and their grieving families, as it absolves those responsible without any accountability.
OSU highlighted that the people of Oting and Nagaland had always believed in the judiciary’s role in upholding justice, but this decision has shattered their faith. The closure of the case, they said, fails to address the injustice and trauma inflicted on their community.
The union called on civil society groups and the public to unite in seeking justice and urged higher authorities to reconsider the ruling.
NSF: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has voiced strong outrage and indignation over the Supreme Court’s September 17, 2024, decision to dismiss petitions seeking prosecution of 30 army personnel from the 21 Paras (Special Forces) involved in the tragic Oting massacre. In a representation to the Union Home Minister, NSF president Medovi Rhi and general secretary Chumben Khuvung expressed deep concern over the closure of criminal proceedings related to the December 4, 2021, killing of 14 civilians in Oting, Mon district.
NSF condemned the Government of India for its refusal to grant prosecution sanction against the accused personnel, despite clear findings from the Nagaland government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT). The SIT had filed charges against 30 members of the 21 Para (SF) based on concrete evidence following a thorough investigation. NSF leaders questioned the government’s motives, asking, “What is the Government of India trying to hide?” and “Why is justice being withheld despite the gravity of the crime?”
The dismissal of the case, despite the SIT’s findings, has eroded the Naga people’s trust in the judicial system and democratic institutions. NSF emphasized that the Oting massacre is not an isolated incident but a reflection of systemic injustice, exacerbated by the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958. The NSF has long opposed AFSPA, which grants blanket immunity to armed forces personnel, often leading to extrajudicial killings and human rights violations.
The Oting massacre, the NSF argued, is a clear example of how AFSPA is used to shield perpetrators of violence, further alienating the Naga people. The NSF also condemned the flawed intelligence that led to the wrongful identification of civilians during the operation, calling for a thorough investigation into the intelligence failure.
In response to these injustices, the NSF issued three demands—i. Immediate prosecution sanction against the accused personnel from the 21 Para (SF); ii. Full accountability and transparency from the Union Government regarding the intelligence failure and iii.
Revocation of AFSPA from the Naga homeland and the entire Northeast. NSF warned that failure to meet these demands would result in democratic agitations, as the Naga people will not remain silent in the face of such injustices.
NSCN (I-M): NSCN (I-M) through its Ministry of Information and Publicity (MIP), has slammed the Supreme Court’s September 17, 2024, ruling dismissing criminal proceedings against 30 army personnel involved in the Oting massacre. MIP described the December 4, 2021, killings as a “heinous crime” committed by the 21 Paras (Special Forces) and called it a continuation of India’s strategic policy to suppress the Naga people.
MIP emphasized that the incident, which took place despite a ceasefire being in place since 1997, reflects the systemic militarization under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). It accused AFSPA of enabling widespread violence and branding the Nagas as separatists and militants to justify acts of brutality.
NSCN(I-M) also recalled that the Oting massacre , where six innocent civilians were mistakenly killed as militants, followed by the deaths of eight protestor,. It described the incident as deeply dehumanizing and expressed disbelief that those responsible for such a grievous crime could be allowed to walk free.
NSCN(I-M) also strongly objected to the denial of justice, stating that the Supreme Court’s ruling comes as a “rude shock” to the Naga people. It pledged to stand with the victims, emphasizing that the massacre was a clear violation of human rights, and vowed to continue fighting until justice is served. NSCN(I-M) called on all justice-loving people to remember the reckless actions of the Indian Army until accountability is achieved.
NH: Naga Hoho has strongly criticized the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on September 17, which dismissed petitions seeking the prosecution of 30 army personnel, including a major, involved in the killings of 13 civilians in Oting, Nagaland, on December 4, 2021. In a statement media cell of the Naga Hoho expressed deep disappointment with the apex court’s decision, stating that suggesting the case could proceed if the Centre grants sanction is nothing more than “lip service.”
The organization slammed the judiciary for what it described as shirking its responsibility and passing the burden to the executive branch.
The Naga Hoho further emphasized that the Supreme Court’s termination of the case filed by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Nagaland Police sends a distressing message, implying that justice remains elusive for the victims and their families. The group called the ruling a serious affront to their efforts to secure justice and accountability.
NH described the Oting massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 14 civilians, as a blatant violation of human rights. The Hoho contended that the dismissal undermines both the credibility of the judicial process and public trust in the rule of law. Furthermore, NH criticized the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958, under which the Indian Armed Forces are granted immunity from prosecution, enabling them to act with impunity against civilians.
The Hoho also stressed that the Oting massacre is not an isolated incident but part of a long history of oppression and atrocities committed by the Indian Army, citing previous incidents such as the Matikhru massacre (1960), the Oinam massacre (1987), and the killing of students in Wuzu (2015).
Naga Hoho urged upon the Government of Nagaland to continue its pursuit of justice for the victims’ families and called upon Naga civil society, tribal bodies, and citizens to unite in condemning this injustice and demanding accountability.