Nagaland Govt announces jobs for kin of civilians slain in Oting massacre

KOHIMA: Nagaland's state government has announced that it will provide government jobs to the kin of the 14 civilians who were killed in separate firing incidents in Oting village and Mon town on December 4 and 5. The decision in this regard was taken during a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on December 23.

An official release undersigned by Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, and others, said that to initiate the process, the Deputy Commissioner and Superintendent of Mon district will carry out the procedures in consultations with the concerned village councils and government jobs will be given on "compassionate grounds."

The government has also asked the Centre to remove the Assam Rifles unit in Mon district.

Meanwhile, a Court of Enquiry will initiate disciplinary proceedings against the army unit and personnel who were directly involved in the incident.

Also, a committee shall be instituted to look into the removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in the state. It will be headed by the Additional Secretary (Northeast) of the Union Home Ministry.

On December 4 and 5, troops from the Army’s elite 21 Para SF unit fired on Oting villagers on a truck mistaking them for insurgents.

Meanwhile, a SIT constituted to probe the firing incident that claimed 15 innocent lives, including an Indian Army personnel, has asked residents of Oting to report information from the primary source or any shred of information pertaining to the mishap.

The army is also conducting an inquiry into the killing of civilians by security forces at Oting in Mon district of Nagaland on 4 December.

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