Supreme Court ruling on Oting massacre draws backlash from Nagas

NSF writes to Home Minister

DIMAPUR — The Supreme Court’s recent dismissal of criminal proceedings against Indian army personnel involved in the Oting massacre has stoked strong resentment across Naga communities, inviting objection and condemnation from NSCN (IM), Naga Hoho and Naga Students’ Federation on Thursday.

In a press statement, the NSCN (IM) recalled that the Indian army personnel belonging to 21 Para Special Force army unit were involved in the “heinous crime” at Oting village in Mon district on Dec. 4, 2021, where they had killed 14 civilians.

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“The tragic incident of Dec. 4, 2021 at Oting, Nagalim, despite ceasefire being in place since August 1, 1997 when the army personnel mercilessly gunned down six unprovoked Naga innocents, mistaken to be militants, and another eight Naga innocent protestors is a farce, lie and totally dehumanising the Nagas.

“Nagas are justice loving people. We cannot imagine how the perpetrators of a crime of such enormity are allowed to go scot-free,” the statement read.

The Oting massacre was, among others, a clear violation of human rights, it asserted and expressed strong objection to the denial of justice to the victims.

“NSCN/GPRN stands with the victims and ensure that justice is done. No justice loving people who value human rights can forget the behaviour of the Indian army that was reckless in the extreme,” it added.

In a separate statement, the Naga Hoho maintained that the apex court’s ruling sends a harrowing message that justice will remain out of reach for the victims and their families. The repudiation of the case undermines both the credibility of the judicial process and the public trust in the rule of law, it stated.

“The Supreme Court’s ruling that the case may be taken to its logical conclusion if sanction is granted by the Centre (Central Government) is just lip-service, a failure to shoulder their responsibilities as the judiciary branch of the government and instead choosing to pass the legendary buck to the executive branch,” it added.

According to the Naga Hoho, the Oting massacre remains a painful reminder of the ongoing violence and injustices faced by Naga people under the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958.

It urged Nagaland government not to give up its pursuit of justice for the victims.

NSF writes to Home Minister

In a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, the NSF placed three demands: prosecution sanction against the personnel of the 21 Para (SF) involved in the Oting massacre; dull accountability and transparency from the Union Government regarding the botched intelligence operation; and the immediate revocation of AFSPA from the Naga homeland and the Northeast.

“If these demands are not addressed, the NSF will be left with no option but to launch democratic agitations to fight for the justice that has been denied to the victims and their families. The Naga people will not remain silent in the face of such gross injustices.

“The Naga people demand justice, and we urge the Government of India to stand on the side of justice and accountability,” read the letter.

The federation also expressed indignation at the SC ruling. “The Supreme Court’s decision on 17 September 2024 to close the FIRs without prosecution further compounds the gross injustice the Naga people have endured,” it stated.