The Rising People’s Party also strongly condemned the insinuation of Indian media houses that the killings were collateral damage.
TFM Desk
Condemning the Oting massacre, the Rising People’s Party demanded the Nagaland government to stop the ongoing Hornbill festival.
RPP, in a release, said that it is inappropriate to celebrate when such a “colossal tragedy” has struck, while appealing to all the Naga people to shun/withdraw from the Hornbill festival as a sign of respect to the departed souls. At this tragic hour it’s inappropriate to be mourning and dancing at the same time, it added.
RPP also demanded that the state government should initiate steps to ensure that the army personnel involved in the killings are tried in civilian courts, while stating that the massacre requires a thorough probe by a sitting Judge of the High court/Supreme Court.
The state government should declare a seven day state mourning during which all festivities should be cancelled including the ongoing Hornbill festival, it added.
All the 60 MLAs of the NLA should put forward a joint statement that the Mon killings is a case of murder, RPP demanded while maintaining that the state government should pay adequate compensation to the bereaved families and to the injured ones.
Stating that after the Oting massacre, the AFSPA is once again in the limelight, RPP maintained that it would be pertinent for the Naga negotiating groups and the Naga CSOs to first work towards the repeal of the Act.
RPP further asserted that whether it is the Assam Rifles or the 21 Para, the fact remains that the Indian army slaughtered 15 civilians and injured scores in broad daylight in Mon district. This is unforgivable, it added.
Stating that RPP also mourns with the rest of the Naga family, the party said that it “strongly suspects” that the civilians were deliberately targeted.
The Rising People’s Party also strongly condemned the insinuation of Indian media houses that the killings were collateral damage.
Meanwhile, Kuki Students’ Organisation General Headquarters also condemned the “act of Indian Army which caused the innocent lives of 13 civilians in Mon District, Nagaland”.
At this grieved time, KSO GHQ stands with the people of Mon District and condoles the bereaved families and pray for early recovery of all those injured at the unfortunate incident, KSO said in a statement.
The KSO GHQ also demanded justice for all the civilians who have lost their precious lives and urged the Central government to take a look into this matter and appropriate action be taken according to the law.