Supreme Court decision reopens wounds of Oting massacre

DIMAPUR — The recent Supreme Court decision to halt criminal proceedings against 30 Indian Army personnel involved in the December 2021 Oting killings continues to ignite widespread condemnation in Nagaland.

The court’s ruling, issued on September 17, has been met with sharp criticism from student organisations and civil society groups, all of whom are demanding justice for the deaths of 13 civilians.

Bearing the weight of the tragedy’s direct impact on their village, the Oting Students’ Union (OSU) expressed profound shock and grief.

In a statement on Friday, the OSU said that the incident “remains a painful scar in the hearts of the entire community.”

“We had hoped for justice and accountability for the senseless and brutal loss of our people. However, this decision to absolve those responsible without holding them accountable is not only disheartening but also an insult to the memory of the victims and their grieving families”, read the statement.

“The people of Oting, and Nagaland as a whole, have always believed in the judiciary’s role in upholding justice, especially for the most vulnerable. This ruling, however, shatters our faith in that belief”, it asserted.

Stating that the Supreme Court ruling has left the people of Oting with “a sense of abandonment”, it appealed to all civil society groups and the general public to stand with them in seeking justice.

“We need your support to raise our voices against this decision and to ensure that the loss of innocent lives is not forgotten. Together, we must continue to fight for accountability and for the dignity of those who were so brutally taken from us.

“We urge higher authorities to reconsider this decision, and we ask all those who value justice to join us in this crucial battle for truth and righteousness,” it added.

‘Malicious and unjust judicial system’

In a separate statement, the Konyak Students’ Union asserted that the SC’s “refusal to hold accountable to all those responsible for these heinous massacres directly challenges the fundamental principles of human rights.”

Terming the decision as a “clear violation of the principles of justice and fairness”, it said that the court’s order “undermines the people’s faith in the judiciary, a system that is meant to uphold the rights and dignity of all citizens.”

It criticised the court’s reliance on the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) to justify halting the prosecution, emphasising that the ruling “not only emboldens further impunities but also sets a dangerous precedent where military personnel, funded by the government, can use their might against their fellow citizens without facing consequences.”

The KSU stated that it “withdraws its trust in such a malicious and unjust judicial system” and pledged to present the case to the larger world. “The world deserves to know how a well-established government-backed military can commit atrocities against its own citizens with impunity”, it said.

Furthermore, the student union also committed to ensuring a lasting historical record of the tragedy, and announced the upcoming publication of a comprehensive book meticulously documenting the events of Dec. 4 and the 5th, 2021, including the killings in Oting and a subsequent incident in Mon, where another civilian was killed.

“This book will stand as a testament to the Union’s commitment to justice and human rights, and it will also expose the systematic failures that led to this tragic loss of life”, it said.

The KSU called on the national and international communities to join their condemnation of the court’s decision and their continued struggle for justice.

Also read: SC closes criminal proceedings in Oting killing case with caveat