A day after several Naga civilians were killed by the Indian Armed Forces in an operation carried out in Nagaland’s Mon district, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called for repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA).
Taking to Twitter, the chief minister said, "Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed #AFSPA. It should be repealed."
Speaking at the funeral service of the innocent civilians killed at Oting and Mon headquarters on December 4 and 5 by the Indian Army, held at Helipad Ground, Mon on Monday, CM Rio said that the challenge of removing the tag of "Disturbed State" on Nagaland and the prevalence of AFSPA in the state is a continuing challenge which the state government is fighting against.
The chief minister assured the people that the components of the joint memorandum submitted by the KU, KNSK and KSU, which falls under the state's prerogative will be looked into and for those under the Centre's, the state government will work towards it's fulfillment.
CM Neiphiu Rio paid his last respects to the innocent lives who were killed at Oting and said that their sacrifices will not be forgotten.
"Paid my last respects to the innocent lives who were killed at Oting. Their sacrifices will not be forgotten. We are together in this. We stand in solidarity with the people. I extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved families. May the departed souls RIP," the chief minister tweeted.
Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton, Ministers Metsubo Jamir, Neiba Kronu and Pangyu Phom, TR Zeliang and all the Konyak Legislators were among the thousands who attended the service.
Rio said that he along with his colleagues were there to mourn together with the people of Mon. He stated that the whole state is with the Konyaks and the ENPO to observe December 4 and 5 2021 as "Black Day", against the incident which took the lives of innocent Nagas by the Indian Army.
"This day will go down in the history of our people, where our brave sons sacrificed their lives for our land," the chief minister said.
The chief minister announced an ex-gratia of Rs five lakh for the family of each victim, while adding that Union Home Minister Amit Shah, has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 11 lakh and a government job to the family of each victim.
Representatives from Konyak Legislators, ENPO, Konyak Union, KNSK, ENSF, KSU, Village Council of Oting, Jakphang and Chi delivered speeches condemning the incident and the cruel and draconian provisions of AFSPA.
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Meanwhile, Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma also demanded that AFSPA must be repealed.
"AFSPA should be repealed," Sangma also tweeted on Monday.
As many as 13 villagers who were returning to Oting from their place of daily work at Tiru were killed on the night of December 4 when the security personnel of Assam Rifles opened fire on the truck they were travelling in an operation against Naga militants.
The chaos and violence that followed on Sunday in Mon over the Oting ambush claimed two more lives and left several others injured.
Condemning the incident, the Naga Students' Federation imposed total shutdown in all Naga inhabited areas on Monday 6 am to 12 noon.
