At least 14 civilians killed by Indian forces in remote northeast

 At least 14 tribal civilians and one security personnel were  killed when Indian forces opened indiscriminate fire in the remote northeastern state of Nagaland, government and military officials said on Sunday.

India's Home Minister Amit Shah said he was "anguished" at the news of civilians being killed in the incident late on Saturday night.

Nagaland's chief minister Neiphiu Rio told Reuters a probe will be conducted and the guilty punished in the incident, which he ascribed to intelligence failure.

At least a dozen civilians and some members of the security forces were injured in the attack, said a federal defence ministry official based in New Delhi.

Locals in Nagaland have frequently accused forces of wrongly targeting innocent locals in their counterinsurgency operations against rebel groups.

The incident took place in and around Oting village in Mon district, bordering Myanmar, during a counterinsurgency operation conducted by members of the Assam Rifles, a part of Indian security forces deployment in the state, said a senior police official based in Nagaland.

Firing began when a truck carrying 30 or more coal-mine labourers were passing the Assam Rifles camp area.

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A day after six civilians were killed by the security forces in what they said was a case of “mistaken identity”, the situation continued to be tense in Nagaland’s Mon district on Sunday. In the operation and the clashes that ensued with the security forces later, 13 civilians were killed on Saturday. On Sunday, authorities said that a large crowd of angry villagers gathered in Mon town and marched to the Assam Rifles camp, engaging in vandalism. The security forces opened fire, leading to the death of one more civilian.

“They engaged in vandalism, destruction and set fire to some buildings. The security forces opened fire, which led to the death of one civilian. One more was injured,” Abhijit Sinha, Nagaland’s Principal Secretary (home) told The Indian Express. He added that the situation is under control now and prohibitory orders have been imposed in Mon town.

Six civilians were killed in the operation in Tiru area of Mon district on Saturday evening when security forces allegedly mistook them for militants and fired on them. This led to clashes later, in which seven civilians and one security personnel were killed.

Six people were shot dead in the car, while two were injured. It is then, sources mentioned, that the security forces realised the error. They then took the two injured locals for medical treatment.

The incident triggered alarm in villages nearby and locals surrounded the security personnel. Around 7.30 pm, an official claimed that the security personnel came under attack from the villagers, some of whom snatched guns from the soldiers. While the security personnel initially fired in the air to warn the villagers, it was followed by firing from both sides which resulted in the death of one soldier and more civilians.

The NSCN-IM, the largest Naga rebel group, said the “absurdity and insanity” of the Indian security forces had been “exposed” and that it was a “black day” for the Nagas. “Ironically, the fact that the ubiquitous Indian security forces has brought about toxic storm of bloody dust in Nagalim is not a new thing but a repeat of the past to suppress the legitimate Naga political movement” NSCN-IM said in a statement.

“The Indian security forces will never be able to wash its hands off, smeared with the blood of innocent Nagas no matter how it come out with a nonsensical statement which is linked to credible intelligence reports of movement of insurgents” the statement added.

“The Nagas had in the past faced a trigger-happy Indian security forces, acting with impunity under the Government of India’s Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act/AFSPA which is mainly used against the Naga political movement. Notwithstanding the ongoing Indo- Naga political dialogue that has seen much fruition during the period running more than two decades, the violence against the Nagas continues unabated. This is one of the most unfortunate incidents  of the Indo-Naga ceasefire signed in 1997,” it further said.

West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee too demanded a thorough investigation into incident. Taking to Twitter, she wrote: “Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured. We must ensure a thorough probe into the incident and ensure that all victims get justice!”

Worrisome news from #Nagaland.

Heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. I pray for the speedy recovery of those who were injured.

We must ensure a thorough probe into the incident and ensure that all victims get justice!

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) December 5, 2021

Following the incident, mobile internet was suspended in Mon district on Saturday until further orders. Sources said the situation remains tense in the district.

The incident was also condemned by local civil society organisations. The Konyak Union Kohima said it would abstain from further participation at the ongoing Hornbill Festival, citing “atrocities perpetrated by the security forces” in Oting village.

The Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has said that six tribes of Eastern Nagaland will abstain from participating in the festival. “It has to be understood by all concerned that this order/move is not against the state government, but to show resentment against the security forces who have committed this heinous crime, and to show solidarity of the 6 tribes,” the organisation said in a statement.

The government said two minutes of silence and prayer will be observed at Kisama, all locations of the Naga Heritage Village and at all events of the Hornbill Festival in “remembrance and solidarity of the dead in Mon.”