Army killing Nagaland civilians unfortunate, Shah tells House

NEW DELHI: Home minister Amit Shah expressed regret on behalf of the government over the killing of civilians in Nagaland in a case of mistaken identity calling it “unfortunate” while also offering condolences to the kin of those who died in the firing incidents.
“The Government of India…expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives,” Shah told Parliament on Monday. “The government is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation and necessary measures are being taken as per requirement to ensure peace and tranquility in the region. The state authorities, as a precautionary measure, have promulgated prohibitory orders in the affected areas,” he said, first in the Lok Sabha and then the Rajya Sabha, assuring that the situation was tense but under control.

No clarifications on Shah’s statement, which was made amid noisy protests by opposition MPs, could be sought in the Rajya Sabha as the din continued even after he had finished speaking. Though deputy chairman Harivansh Narayan Singh called on RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, who had submitted his name to the Chair, to seek clarification, he had to adjourn the House for the day due to lack of order.

Shah, in his statement informed both Houses that an additional secretary from the ministry of home affairs (MHA) was in Kohima to review the situation and had on Monday discussed with the state brass the steps to restore normalcy at the earliest. It was decided during the meetings with the Nagaland chief secretary and senior officers of the para-military forces that all agencies should ensure that such unfortunate incidents do not recur while undertaking operations against the insurgents in the future.
The home minister said the state DGP had visited the spot and an FIR has been registered. Considering the complexity of the case, it has been transferred to the state crime police station (SCPS) and a special investigation team (SIT) constituted and directed to complete the investigation within one month. The home minister mentioned the Army 3 Corps’ press statement deeply regretting the incident and its aftermath. The statement had said that the cause of the unfortunate loss of lives was being investigated at the highest level and that appropriate action would be taken as per law.
Sharing he had got in touch with the Nagaland governor soon after learning of the incident, Shah said the MHA was monitoring the situation in consultation with the chief secretary and DGP. “More forces have been deployed in the area to prevent any further untoward incident,” he said.
The home minister said that based on inputs received by the Indian Army about movement of insurgents near Tiru village in Tizit area of Nagaland’s Mon district, a team of the 21 Para-Special Forces of Indian Army laid an ambush on Saturday evening. During the ambush, an approaching vehicle was signalled to stop. However, the vehicle tried to flee, which aroused suspicion that it was carrying insurgents. This led the Army to fire upon the vehicle, resulting in the killing of six out of eight persons travelling in it. “It turned out to be a case of mistaken identity. The two persons who sustained injuries were evacuated to the medical facilities by the Army personnel,” Shah shared.
The local villagers thereafter surrounded the Army team, burnt two of their vehicles and assaulted the personnel, leading to the death of one and injuring several others personnel. To disperse the crowd, the security forces opened fire which resulted in killing of seven more civilians. “The local administration and police have tried to defuse the situation, which remains tense,” said Shah.
He added that on Sunday evening, a 250-strong mob tried to ransack the company operating base (COB) of Assam Rifles at Mon town. The mob burnt buildings of the COB following which troops had to open fire to disperse the mob. One civilian was killed while another was injured in the firing.
As soon as the Lok Sabha met on Monday morning, opposition members, including Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay, raised the issue. In response, parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi assured the House that the home minister will make a detailed statement on it. Speaker Om Birla told the House that the home minister has given him in writing that he will make a statement on the incident in the House, later in the day.
On Sunday evening, an agitated crowd targeted Assam Rifles company operating base and forces had to open fire in which one civilian was killed, Shah stated.
It has been decided all agencies must ensure such incidents do not happen in the future during action against insurgents, the minister said. Expressing dissatisfaction with the statement, opposition parties including the Congress, DMK, SP, BSP and the NCP walked out of the House.
Earlier in the day, Lok Sabha members condemned the Nagaland incident and demanded an impartial probe. Members also called for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
On Sunday, the Army expressed deep regret over the incident and ordered a Court of Inquiry. According to the police in Nagaland's capital Kohima, it was investigating whether the incident was a case of mistaken identity.