MON, OCTOBER 22 (MExN): The Eastern Konyak Union (EKU), Khammoi Village Council (KVC) and Khammoi Students’ Union (KSU) have strongly condemned the alleged drone attack carried out by Indian military forces in Khammoi village under Mon district on October 20 at around 6:45 pm, which resulted in the deaths of two civilians, including a student leader and a minor girl.
According to a joint statement, the deceased have been identified as Khammoi Students’ Union Assistant General Secretary, Late Khampei Meilem, and an eight-year-old girl, both civilians. The organisations stated that the drone strike was allegedly launched from the Khonsa side in Arunachal Pradesh and directly targeted the village without any prior warning or provocation.
Villagers reported that the drones dropped explosives which burnt several houses to ashes and released poisonous gas, severely affecting the entire area and leaving residents in a state of deep shock and fear.
Describing the incident as a gross violation of human rights, the EKU, KVC and KSU stated that such military operations against unarmed civilians are “unlawful and unacceptable.”
“A village is not an underground camp. The use of such high-sophisticated weapons in civilian areas is unjustified. The Indian Army must understand the difference between an innocent public settlement and underground elements,” the statement said.
The three organisations further questioned why a mighty national military would attack civilian homes, calling such acts “cowardly and immature.” They said the army should engage only with armed groups and not harm innocent villagers, women, or children.
They also appealed to all human rights bodies, including the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) and Nagas Without Borders, to raise their voices against such actions and to determine whether the alleged Indian Army drone attack on a civilian area constitutes a violation of international and national laws.
The statement reminded that India is a democratic country and a signatory to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10, 1948), and urged the Government of India to act in accordance with humanitarian principles and immediately cease all forms of military aggression in public village areas.
“Even if underground elements were present, the army should have shown compassion for innocent lives. Every Indian soldier also comes from a village, with families and homes of their own; they must not turn their weapons on other civilians,” the statement added.
The EKU, KVC and KSU said the attack has caused deep psychological trauma among the villagers, who now live in fear of further assaults. They appealed for justice for the victims and urged the Government of India to take serious note of the incident and ensure accountability.
A 'barbaric act': Konyak CSOs
In a separate press statement, the Konyak Civil Society Organisations (KCSO) termed the incident a “deliberate act of genocide” against the Konyak people living in Burma, describing it as an “unprovoked act of violence against innocent civilians, including children.”
“Such a barbaric and unprovoked act of violence against innocent civilians, including children, is an outright violation of international human rights laws and constitutes a heinous crime against humanity. The deliberate targeting of defenceless civilians under any pretext is indefensible, inhumane, and demonstrates an utter disregard for human life and dignity,” the KCSO stated.
The organisation called upon all right-thinking citizens and organisations to condemn such acts and appealed to national and international human rights agencies to take serious cognisance of the attack and ensure that such atrocities are never repeated in the future.
Acknowledging the humanitarian response following the incident, the KCSO expressed gratitude to the Medical Department, led by the Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Medical Superintendent (MS) and District Programme Officer (UIP & RCH), along with the Red Cross Society, Mon District, for their prompt action in dispatching essential medicines, medical kits, and ambulance services to transport victims from Longwa village to the District Hospital, Mon. Medical supplies were also sent to Khammoi village to aid treatment and recovery of the injured.
