Oting, December 12 (MExN): The Oting Village Council (OVC) on December 12 stated that the council and victims’ families will not receive any ex gratia payment from the State Government “until and unless the culprit of 21st Para Commandos of the Indian Armed Forces are brought to justice before the civil code of law” and the Armed Force Special Power Act (AFSPA), 1958 is repealed from the entire North East region of India.
In a clarification issued in the backdrop of photo circulating in the social media regarding the issue, the OTC stated that on December 5 when people of Oting were busy “facing and struggling with the crucial period of time with post mortem, Konyak Union Meeting, funeral arrangement, receiving guest etc., an envelope containing an amount of Rs. 18, 30,000 was brought before the OTC by its Minister and Deputy Commissioner Mon.
The OVC assumed the money to be a token of love and gift from the Minister Paiwang Konyak, who represents the 41 Tizit Assembly Constituency in the Nagaland Legislative Assembly.
However learning that that it was an advance payment or installment of the State Government for the victims’ family and injured persons, the OVC has decided not to accept it, it added.
The OVC and council and victims’ families will not receive any ex gratia payment until and unless the culprits brought to justice before the civil code of law” and AFSPA is repealed, stated the clarification appended by Tahwang Angh, Chingwang Dy. Angh, Mongnei GB, Nyanei GB, and Longwang Konyak, Chairman OVC.
