In a sharp reaction to the killings of innocent civilians in Nagaland by the Indian army, the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights Movement has condemned the role of the Indian army which continues to maim and kill with impunity. The reputed human rights body of Nagaland -the Naga Peoples’ Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) has resolutely condemned the dastardly killings of innocent civilian villagers in the Mon town district of Nagaland. While media reports mention 15 killed, those killed and injured could be much more. WSN reports.

As the Naga festivity season was about to begin, came the shocking and disturbing news that more than 15 civilians have been killed by the Indian Army in a case of ‘mistaken identity.’ The Nagaland Chief Minister and the Indian Home Ministry have regretted the incident and ordered a probe. Lambasting the government for its genocidal acts against Nagas, in a strongly-worded statement issued in Kohima, the NPMHR has called the killings a part of the genocidal plan of India to kill the Nagas.

The statement of the reputed Naga human rights body states, “We squarely hold the Government of India with all its draconian and fascist laws responsible for letting loose their dogs of war (read Indian army) to maul to shreds the innocent villagers of Oting who have committed no crime whatsoever except a commitment to humbly earn their livelihood with dignity and honour.”

The statement mentions that the Indian Army operations are still continuing and “the Indian military and para-military forces are still engaged in their mayhem of killing the civilians in Mon Town. Our anguish is unspeakable at this moment of grief. Our hearts go to the families of the slain innocent villagers. The NPMHR stands with them all and shall walk with them through thick and thin.”

The Secretariat of the NPMHR has strongly stated that “Ever since military aggression and occupation of the Naga homeland in 1954, civilians and common Naga people have been the target of the Indian Army and the para-military forces.”

“Ever since military aggression and occupation of the Naga homeland in 1954, civilians and common Naga people have been the target of the Indian Army and the para-military forces.”

Sharing their acute pain and agony, the statement reads, “Our women folk were stripped of all human dignity by the armed forces of the world’s largest democracy, India. They are being raped, tortured, made to give birth publicly with no more human dignity left and are being subjected to live lives of untold trauma and heavy mental burdens.”

The Indian State does not spare any of its armed tools and occupational instruments to extinguish the Naga spirit of human dignity and spirit of equal human brotherhood. The world is prevented from knowing these ceaseless state-sponsored crimes against the Naga people and against humanity. 

Does it not shock the conscience of the world that the “Indian army personnel used their most sophisticated firearms to kill simple, humble and bread-earning villagers?

NPHMR which has throughout been stating that the intentions of the government are suspicious has said, “This evil act of the Indian government through its military forces once again reveals its true intent of owning our land after exterminating our Naga people. Our people at all times seek to live in peace with all other people.”

Does it not shock the conscience of the world that the “Indian army personnel used their most sophisticated firearms to kill simple, humble and bread-earning villagers?

“Our history tells us that we have never waged war on any people even in the days of old. We are being denied to live lives of dignity, to exercise our rights and are now being driven to live in fear. The Government of India, time and again, wages war against our Naga people. The actions of the Indian State upon our people are no less than the erstwhile apartheid. No power on earth had ever succeeded in subduing our Naga spirit.”

All Naga social, human rights and political bodies have condemned the killings and have suspended their December festivities in honour of those killed. It is reported that the Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio has sought the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), which gives full impunity to the Indian security forces to injure and kill without any fear of being hauled before courts.