Army Unit Named In Nagaland Op Deaths, “Intention To Murder,” Allege Cops
Thirteen villagers and a soldier were killed at an Indo-Myanmar border district in Nagaland on Sunday as a counter-insurgency operation went horribly off script. One more villager died in the clashes that followed.
The 21 Para Special forces of Army “blankly opened fire” resulting in the killing of many Oting villagers in Mon district of Nagaland near Assam border, the state police have alleged in its FIR against the Army unit. It further alleges that the “intention” of security forces was to “murder and injure civilians”.
Thirteen villagers and a soldier were killed at an Indo-Myanmar border district in Nagaland on Sunday as a counter-insurgency operation went horribly off-script. One more villager died in the clashes that followed.
“It is to be noted that at the time of the incident there was no police guide nor security forces did make requisition to the police station to provide police guide for their operation. Hence it is obvious that the intention of security forces is to murder and injure civilians,” read a copy of the FIR by the state police that has been accessed by NDTV.
“At around 1530 hours, coal mine laborers of Opting village were returning to their native village Opting from Tiru in a vehicle Bolero pick up. On reaching Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Opting village, security forces blankly opened fire at the vehicle without any provocation resulting in the killing of many Oting villagers and seriously injuring many others (sic),” the FIR added.
The Army, in a statement yesterday, had deeply regretted the “unfortunate loss of lives” in a security operation that went awry, adding that the matter will be investigated at the “highest level”.
Acting on a tip-off on the likely movement of insurgents, the Army said it had planned an ambush on the Tiru-Opting road.
