It was on this day, 4th December 2021, when the state was celebrating the ‘festival of festivals’, a news broke that sent shockwaves not only in Nagaland but the entire world. All activities across the state had come to a standstill, the curtains of the mega Hornbill Festival also came to a close, to stand in solidarity and mourn the loss of their Konyak brothers.

The Konyak Union Kohima (KUK) today held a silent prayer at the Konyak Morung in Kisama remembering the fourteen departed souls. In a significant manner of the Konyak tradition, Konyak men clad in their traditional attire fired series of muzzle shots as an act of remembrance.

Konyak Union, Oting Village, Oting Massacre, Mon district, Nagaland, AFSPA, Hornbill Festival 2023

Konyak Union Kohima Vice President Jeiang Konyak, said “when we recall that very day, it really touch our hearts and it is inexpressible. We were here celebrating Hornbill Festival and it was a cloudy, gloomy day.” We don’t know how to conclude, Justice we don’t know how to begin and how to end, added Konyak.

He also expressed his gratitude to all the Naga tribes who stood in solidarity with the Konyak community during its darkest times.

Meanwhile, Minister of Power and Parliamentary Affairs and Government Spokesperson, KG Kenye, reiterated the stand of the state government that the Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) must be repealed sooner or later and justice should be delivered to the victims.

“Our hearts goes out to them, it has not been amended. Our stand is still the same that justice should be given to them and AFSPA must be repealed sooner or later,” said Kenye.

Two years ago, six coal miners returning from work were killed in a botched ambush by the security forces at Oting village, while seven others were gunned down when angry villagers scuffled with them after discovering the bullet-riddled bodies of the labourers on an Army truck.

One security personnel was also killed in the melee. Another civilian was killed when a mob attacked an Assam Rifles camp at Mon town the next day.

Earlier, this year the Centre had denied sanction to prosecute 30 Army men who were allegedly involved in the 4 December 2021 killing of 13 civilians.

The SIT of Nagaland Police was constituted by the state home department the very next day after the incident. The SIT after completing the probe on 24 March 2022, had sought the sanction for prosecution from the department of military affairs of the defence ministry against the accused security forces personnel who were involved in the incident.

It had reported involvement of 30 Army men — a major, two subedars, eight havildars, four naiks, six lance naiks and nine paratroopers of 21 Para security Force.

But their wives approached the Supreme Court for a stay of the proceedings in the case. The apex court in an interim order dated 19 July 2022, stayed further proceedings in the case.

The Army had also set up a ‘court of inquiry’ on the incident but the findings have not been made public till date.

Read more: Father cries ‘Justice denied’ as Black Day observed in remembrance of 14 victims of Oting massacre