Gone but not forgotten: Remembering the victims of Oting massacre

Our Correspondent/Reporter
Kohima/Dimapur, Dec. 4 (EMN): People of Oting observed Black Day on Sunday in remembrance of the 13 sons killed in a botched ambush by the 21 Para Special Forces the same day last year.

The villagers gathered at the local ground around 2 pm on Sunday and began the programme at 4 pm. They prayed together around 4:30, the time when the ambush happened, killing six coal miners on the spot and seriously injuring two others.

Former president of Oting Citizen, J Pumin, told Eastern Mirror that the demand for justice was the main focus of the Black Day.

‘Till date justice is not delivered to the victims. We still did not get justice and why is that?’ he said.

‘Yes, government looked after the injured persons with their treatment. But for those who are disabled from the incident, what will they become in life? There is no hope for them’, he said.

‘For some, their family depends on them (injured). They were supposed to look after their parents but on the contrary, parents have to look after them. Some of them who were looking after their elderly parents are now disabled in their hands, eyes, and head injury. It will be good if the government looked into the matter’, he went on to add.

He further informed that the villagers are planning to approach KU and ENPO soon with regard to their demand for justice to the victims.

‘They were killed and they are not some commodities to be brought back to life. Justice must prevail’, he said.

The Black Day will also be observed on December 5 (Monday) as well in remembrance of the Mon victim, who was killed during the protest on Dec. 5, 2021.

‘Only tears come out when we talk about our sons but we have to speak out and fight for justice’, VG Manpeih said.

Recall of incident speech was given by VG commandant Lenwang where he appealed for punishing those who killed the innocent civilians.

Chemwang, father of late Shomwang, who was among the six civilians shot dead, called for a continued fight for justice.

‘Losing his son is a great loss for his family, for the Konyaks and Nagas as a whole’, he said.

Village Council Chairman of Oting, Longwang acknowledged well wishers during the dark night of Oting and all the individuals and organisations who came forward to help in their darkest moment.

President of Oting Students Union, Keapwang expressed hope that the government will compensate those injured victims as per the percentage of their casualty.

He named a few of the worst-affected injured persons including Sheiwang, Phojem, Yeihwang and Tingshen, who could not or can never stand on their own feet. He appealed to the government of Nagaland to do the needful and compensate them at the earliest.

After the Oting incident, their lives have completely changed and it can never be normal again, he added.

On learning that Black Day was not observed throughout the state, a resident of Oting expressed frustration at the Nagas in general for not observing the Black day.

‘I was hoping that at least a day would be declared Black Day across the state in remembrance of the victim’, he said.

A candlelight vigil remembering the innocent civilians killed by security forces on December 4 and 5, 2021, was observed in Dimapur on Sunday.

Organised by Konyak Union Dimapur (KUD) at Konyak community Centre (KCC), president of KUD, Mosa, shared that they were observing Black Day as directed by the Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation, adding that in times of grief, as well as in times of joy, ‘this is how ENPO live’.

Mosa stated that they never expected such kind of inhuman act, and told the gathering that even in the years to come, the ENPO would never forget this incident. He also urged the gathering to co-operate with each other and move forward.

Expressing solidarity, representative of Dimapur Eastern Nagaland Students’ Union (DENSU), Auchingsonla Chang, said that marking December 4 as Black Day is a reminder to each one of them about the14 brothers who lost their lives in a tragic massacre.

Chang added that they were not only speaking about a single tribe or community, but about humanity. She said that no statement, ‘however true it might be, can ever justify the killing of innocent people’.

‘What hurts the most is the fact that justice is still not delivered till this day,’ he conveyed.

“They say investigation is completed and 30 personnel charge sheeted, yet their prosecution sanction were grounded by the Supreme Court on the petition filed by the wife of the charge sheeted major”, she stated.

Chang went on to say that if only the Supreme Court would listen to the plea of thousands of Nagas, as they have listened to the plea of a single person.

‘Now it all lies in the hands of the authorities on expediting the court’s proceeding but I want to remind the government that we are not sleeping over this matter, but keeping a keen eye on every step’, Chang stated.

Chang mentioned that they were gathered on Sunday to tell the perpetrators and the world that their ‘wounds were not cured, their tears were not dried, and their pain had not gone yet’.

At the programme, a message of solidarity was also delivered by a member of Eastern Nagaland people’s Union Dimapur (ENPUD) while benediction was delivered by pastor of Konyak Baptist Church Dimapur, Rev. Tonlong.

The Naga Students’ Federation and its federating units also observed Black Day on Sunday by organising a solemn ceremony to pay homage to lives of those “brutally” killed by the army. ‘The flag of the federation will be flying at half mast today and tomorrow in honour of the innocent lives cruelly taken away from us by our adversaries’, an update from the NSF informed.

Meanwhile, Poumai Naga Tsiidoumai Me (Poumai Naga Students Union) also observed a candlelight vigil and prayer programme in remembrance of the Oting massacre at PNTM Head Office, Khabung Karong on Sunday. The short gathering was attended by leaders of Poumai Naga Frontal Organisation and well wishers to express solidarity and demand the repeal of AFSPA from Naga homeland.