Indian Tribal News Service
Guwahati/New Delhi
The families of the 14 people killed in the shootings by security forces and the villagers of Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district have refused any government compensation until the personnel involved in the killing are “brought to justice”.
The Oting Village Council issued a statement saying that on December 5 when the locals were busy with funeral arrangements and other works in the aftermath of the killings, Rs18.30 lakh was given by State minister P Paiwang Konyak and the district’s deputy commissioner.
At first, they assumed it to be a “token of love and gift” from the minister but later learnt it was an installment of the ex-gratia from the state government for the families of those killed and injured, the statement said.
“The Oting Village Council and victim families will not receive it until and unless the culprit of 21st Para Commandos of the Indian Armed Force are brought to justice before the Civil code of law and repeal of Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the entire North Eastern region,” the statement asserted.
The Oting Citizens Office, representing Oting village, had rubbished official claims about the events that led to the killings and even alleged that the security forces had tried to hide the dead bodies and dress them in fatigues in a bid to pass them off as militants after the botched-up ambush.
It also claimed the killings were in “cold blood” with the driver being among the first to be shot dead with a bullet which pierced the windshield.
“The pierced windshield in the front by bullets clearly indicates that they first shot the driver of the pick-up truck to (bring it to a ) halt and ambushed the remaining point blank,” the statement alleged.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had made a statement in the Parliament saying the vehicle with the villagers didn’t stop and had tried to flee forcing the personnel to shoot.
