Citizens of Kohima take part in a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Oting incident on December 6. (Morung Photo)
Morung Express News
Dimapur | December 6
The spot report submitted to Nagaland Government by two State government officials regarding the Oting incident as well as the subsequent chain of events has revealed new concerning details.
The Nagaland Director General of Police and Commissioner Nagaland submitted the spot report to the State Government on Sunday divulging details of the December 4 Oting firing incident and the subsequent violent clashes in Mon town Headquarter on December 5.
The report, in the possession of The Morung Express, informed that the first incident occurred at around 4:10 PM on Saturday where eight coal miners returning home in a pickup truck were ambushed.
Oting incident: Chain of events
“They were ambushed and killed by Security Forces (reportedly, 21 Para Special Force based in Assam) at random, apparently without any attempt for identification,” the first report on December 4 stated.
The Union Home Minister in a statement in the parliament later confirmed the Security Forces as 21 para-commandos of Indian Army.
“They were all unarmed civilians working in the coal mines in Tiru valley and possessed no arms travelling in an open Mahindra Pickup truck in broad daylight but were fired upon and six of them were killed on the spot and two critically injured,” the report said.
As the incident occurred some few kilometers away from Oting village, the villagers on hearing the gunshots went to the spot with apprehension as the individuals did not return home from work.
As per the report, when the villagers reached the spot, the Special Forces Personnel were allegedly “trying to hide the dead bodies of the six villagers by wrapping and loading them in another pickup truck (Tata Mobile) apparently with the intention of taking the dead bodies to their base camp.”
“On finding the dead bodies in the Tata Mobile, under a tarpaulin, violence broke out between the villagers and the Security personnel,” it recounted.
Accordingly, the irate villagers burnt 3 vehicles belonging to the Special Forces Personnel and in the melee, the latter again opened fire “against the villagers which led to the death of 7 (seven) more villagers.”
“Eyewitnesses have confirmed that the Special Forces Personnel opened fire indiscriminately as they fled from the scene towards Assam side even firing in the coal mine hutments on the way,” it added.
The report further mentioned that on the secured crime site, there are presently one Mahindra pickup in which the civilians were ambushed; one burnt Scorpio; a burnt Bolero; a burnt Tata Winger; and a damaged Tata Mobile.
The report further informed that 13 civilians were killed on December 4 while 14 were seriously injured. Eight civilians suffered minor injuries.
“Two of the seriously injured persons were taken to Assam side by the Security forces themselves and are now admitted in the ICU at Dibrugarh Medical Hospital,” it added.
While earlier reports suggested that the death toll was 15, it was later confirmed 13 civilian died in the Saturday incident while one died in the Sunday incident taking the total to 14.
A statement from the PRO Defence Kohima in Sunday also informed that “security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries.”
“The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law,” it added.
Centre ‘sincerely regrets’ incident: Shah
The Union Home Minister, making on statement on the issue in the Parliament, however, gave a different account and claimed that the vehicle “was signalled to stop but it tried to speed away.” Suspecting the presence of insurgents in the vehicle, the security personnel opened fire, he said.
The incident occurred after a team of 21 para-commandos “laid an ambush” based on inputs received by the Indian Army “about movement of the insurgents near Tiru village in Tizit area of Mon district,” he said.
However, it turned out to be “a case of mistaken identity,” he stated.
“The Government of India sincerely regrets this unfortunate incident in Nagaland and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives,” he added.
Shah also informed that an FIR was registered regarding the incident in Tizit police station and considering the complexity of the case, it has been transferred to the State Crime Police Station (SCPS).
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted and directed to complete the investigation within one month, he added.
Report on December 5 incidents
Meanwhile, the spot report on December 5 incident in Mon HQ said that one person was confirmed killed and 6 others sustained bullet wound injuries, including one IR personnel of 1 IRB, Aboi, who were shifted to District Hospital.
Recounting the incident, the report informed that the Konyak Union had announced for a mass funeral service of the 13 deceased civilians at the Helipad, Mon town, whose mortal remains were brought there from Oting village.
However, the programme was postponed to December 6 without “clear announcement” regarding the postponement.
“This confusion led to the crowd getting agitated and a section of the public started marching towards the District Hospital and Konyak Union office whereby, they vandalized the KU office,” it said.
The crowded thereafter proceeded towards the 27th Assam Rifles post located at Thamnan Ward, Mon and after reaching the periphery of the camp and “got violent, throwing stones, vandalizing properties and setting fire to three buildings within the Pont.”
It resulted in blank firing by the Assam Rifle personnel which agitated the crowd further.
The District Administration and Police Officials tried to reason and pacify the crowd but was outnumbered, it said, noting that they were around 600-700 people “armed with sticks, pipes, flammable fluids and few daos.”
After almost an hour into the melee, the second round of continuous firing by the Assam Rifles resulted “in the mob running for safety and protection,” it added.
One person was confirmed killed and 6 others sustained bullet wound injuries in the process.
“At the time of filing of this report, Prohibitory Orders under CrPC Section 144 has been clamped in Mon town to control the situation. The situation continues to be tense and volatile,” stated the report by the DGP and Commissioner, Nagaland, who are currently camping in Mon.
