Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday lashed out at the Centre over the Mon ambush that left 14 people killed, including 13 civilians, at Oting in Mon district of Nagaland late Saturday.

Taking to Twitter, the Congress leader demanded that the Centre must give a reply as to what the Home Ministry is doing when neither civilians nor security personnel are safe.

"This is heart wrenching. GOI must give a real reply.  What exactly is the home ministry doing when neither civilians nor security personnel are safe in our own land?," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.

Terming the incident "highly distressing", the Congress party said in a tweet that the repeated incidents of violence in the Northeast is a clear indication of Modi-led BJP government's failure to maintain law and order.

"Tragic news from #Nagaland is highly distressing. Repeated incidents of violence in North East is a clear indication of Modi govt's failure to maintain law & order & protect national security. PM & HM- why is Govt unable to ensure safety of our civilians & security personnel?" the Congress tweeted.

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that a high-level SIT constituted by the state government will thoroughly probe the incident.

"Anguished over an unfortunate incident in Nagaland’s Oting, Mon. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. A high-level SIT constituted by the State govt will thoroughly probe this incident to ensure justice to the bereaved families," Shah tweeted.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Army’s 3 Corps claimed responsibility for the killing of the civilians and stated that it “deeply regretted” the incident.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Army’s 3 Corps claimed responsibility for the killing of the civilians and stated that it “deeply regretted” the incident.
 
The Army said in its statement that the operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon district, Nagaland based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents. The incident and its aftermath are deeply regretted, it added.