Hear their cries: Mon incident has left an indelible mark (Part-I)

Reyivolü Rhakho

Kohima, Dec. 14 (EMN): The unmistakable sound of wailing and endless dirge peering through the dusty path leads travellers to Oting village, about a two-hour drive from Tizit headquarters in Mon district.

Almost a week earlier, security forces had gunned down innocent civilians who were returning home to their families at Oting.

Having witnessed the grieving family members of the victims, it was heartbreaking and overwhelming to comprehend their tragic loss and also equally important to understand their decision to not speak to visitors. However, having witnessed their pain and grief first hand, how could one leave without telling their stories?

When Eastern Mirror visited the village on December 10, two days after reaching Mon district headquarters, bereaved wives, mothers and family members were trying to find a space to vent their grief amidst the cacophony of visitors.

The mother of the twins — Thapwang (23) and Langwang (23), was beyond consolable, while  mother of Khawang (21) was literally shouting in agony and despair, asking ‘why his son was killed’ and demanded his son be brought to her instantly.

The numbing expression on Khawang’s wife and the cries of his four-month-old son, did not betray the anguish of their loss.

Nights ‘without sleep’ and ‘loss of appetite’ was exactly how the people of Oting in general had been experiencing since the night of December 4, according to Phonei Konyak.

And as for Deputy Angh Chingwang Konyak, the traumatic incident has left an indelible mark, which cannot be “forgotten”.

“We will never be able to forget the incident. Their faces will always remind us of the dreadful day. Because it happened in our village and we have witnessed it with our own eyes. People from other villages might not think much about it but how can we forget their faces. It pains us beyond measure,” Chingwang said.

‘Our villages do not have any dues with the Indian government. We have been co-operating with the Indian government till date. Did the Indian government issue arms and ammunition to the Indian army to kill us? We are not China, Burma (Myanmar), or Pakistan. Are Oting village, Nagaland and Northeast not citizens of India? We are heartbroken,’ he added.

Saying that repealing of AFSPA is “highly delayed”, he demanded revoking of the Act adding that it is the only way villagers will find peace.

He further informed that Naga political groups or any other factions and armies were barred from entering Oting and Tiru area. “We don’t need them. Don’t ever come,” he asserted.

The demand for justice has been growing louder among citizens of India’s north-eastern region and beyond, who are denouncing the killing of 14 innocent civilians by security personnel in Mon district on December 4 and the 5th.

The incident revived the atrocities against the public back in the 1950s and 60s in the region. For over 63 years and counting, civilians bore the brunt of the “draconian” AFSPA, which gives security forces impunity to kill anyone on mere suspicion. It also highlights the bleak future of the people as long as the law is in force in the region.

The incident: What actually happened

On the fateful evening of December 4 (Saturday), eight youths (coal miners) were returning home in a pick-up truck from coal mining in lower Tiru. Not very far from their workplace, the 21-par commandos of Jorhat launched an attacked on them killing six on spot while injuring two others as per locals Eastern Mirror spoke to. Later on, they went on to kill seven other civilians.

Recounting the night of December 4, the Village Guard, Manpei Konyak, who was one of the witnesses of the ambush site, said that they had asked the security forces of the youths’ whereabouts multiple times, to which they denied having any information. Upon searching their vehicles one after the other, they found dead bodies being “hidden” in one the vehicles belonging to the security personnel.

‘When villagers approached to take the bodies, gunshots came out from the nearby bushes killing and injuring several others,’ he said.

Some distance away from the ambush site towards Tiru, is a “mini-village” where coal miners and workers in Tiru take shelter, and locals call it “campsite”.

There, ‘some who were sitting in shops were killed, some who came in their own vehicles to witness what was happening were killed,’ taking the death toll to 13, the VG narrated.

“What has happened? Were these soldiers sent to kill the public or what? We do not like this at all. We want our kids. We want them alive,” he said.

“Why did they kill the public, what wrong have we done, they are not underground (workers) but mere labourers; why did they kill such people? Why are these forces sent in our village,” he poured out questions.

Countering the Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in the Parliament that the vehicle was “signalled to stop but it tried to flee”, the VG said the home minister is “lying”.

Those killed were identified as C Shomwang Konyak (33), Langwang Konyak (23), Thapwang Konyak (23), Yinjong Konyak (23), Thakwang Konyak (22), Khawang Konyak (23/21), Ngampho Konyak (32), Langtun Konyak (36), Manpeih konyak (26), Hokup (37), Phaokam (39), Bipul Konwar (17) (non local), all residents of Oting village and Pongche Konyak (17) from Jakphang village under Longching circle, and Leiong Konyak (34) from Chi village, who was killed in a protest in Mon the following day.

Of the 13 civilians killed in Oting, 12 were buried in the village’s common graveyard, while, Pongche Konyak (17) from Jakphang village, under Longching circle was taken home and buried there. Meanwhile, Leiong Konyak (34) from Chi Village, who was killed in a protest the next day in Mon, was buried in his village.

Injured persons’ health update

As per the status report of injured persons  available with Eastern Mirror, 16 of them (inclusive of Oting and Mon incidents) are admitted in different hospitals. These included the two survivors who are admitted at Assam Medical College and Hospital, Dibrugarh. Meanwhile, two persons have been released so far.