Guwahati Sept 23: The North East Students’ Organisation (NESO), representing eight student bodies from the Northeast, has urged the Union government to sanction the prosecution of the 21 Para Special Forces (SF) personnel involved in the Oting massacre in Mon district, Nagaland.
This tragic incident, which occurred on December 4, 2021, led to the killing of 14 innocent civilians by the Indian Army unit.
Despite the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which reportedly uncovered substantial evidence pointing to the culpability of the military personnel involved, the Supreme Court of India on September 17, decided to close the criminal proceedings against the accused soldiers.
NESO is pushing for swift action and justice, emphasizing that the closure of the case without prosecution sends a disturbing message about impunity for such incidents. The Oting massacre has been a highly sensitive issue in Nagaland, highlighting the broader grievances in the Northeast regarding militarization and the application of controversial laws like the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
In a statement, NESO chairman Samuel Jyrwa and secretary general Muysikhoyo Yhobu expressed deep concern and disappointment over the Supreme Court’s ruling regarding the Oting massacre.
“The decision is a clear denial of justice for the victims and their families, who have long awaited accountability for the December 2021 killings of 14 innocent civilians by the 21 Para Special Forces (SF),” the NESO said.
The NESO highlighted the findings of the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was established by the Nagaland government. The SIT’s thorough investigation uncovered overwhelming evidence implicating 30 personnel, including senior officers, in the massacre. Despite these findings and the submission of a charge sheet to the District and Sessions Court of Mon, the Union government has refused to sanction the prosecution of the accused soldiers, a move that has angered the organization and the larger community.
The NESO leadership also reiterated their longstanding demand for the complete repeal of the AFSPA in the Northeast. They argue that AFSPA, which grants the military broad powers, is undemocratic and contributes to a cycle of mistrust, violence, and human rights abuses in the region. They stressed that failing to repeal this law will only deepen the alienation and resentment in the Northeast.
The statement underscores the grave concerns regarding the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Oting massacre, framing it as a denial of justice and an affront to the rule of law in the Northeast. NESO argued that the ruling exacerbates the sense of alienation in the region, where people already feel marginalized due to historical injustices and the application of controversial laws like the AFSPA.
The court’s acknowledgement that the case could proceed if the Union government grants sanction for prosecution is seen by NESO as a critical point of frustration. The bureaucratic delay in approving this prosecution sends a troubling message, according to the organization, suggesting that the lives of civilians in the Northeast—especially marginalized communities—are regarded as expendable under the protective cover of AFSPA.
“NESO has consistently called for the repeal of AFSPA, labeling it as a law that fosters impunity, encourages human rights violations, and perpetuates violence without accountability. The Oting massacre serves as a stark reminder of the dangerous consequences of such laws,” the statement further said.
NESO asserted that AFSPA has allowed heinous acts like these to occur with minimal repercussions, reinforcing the need for its removal from the region to restore faith in the justice system and protect the rights of its citizens.
