Konyak CSOs outraged by 21 Paras in Oting

December 30, 2021 34 Views No Comment

DIMAPUR, DEC 30 (NPN) : Say faces of personnel involved recognised; warn that this will be dealt as per customary norms of Konyaks

Konyak Civil Society Organisations (CSOs)-Konyak Union (KU), Konyak Nyupuh Sheko Khong (KNSK) and Konyak Students’ Union- have expressed strong resentment over the presence of some of those (21 Paras) involved with the Oting massacre with the Army Inquiry Team at Oting Yatong incident (site of massacre) on December 29, 2021.

The CSOs demanded to know as to why were those 21 Paras involved given protection by the Indian military forces? They said this violation would be dealt with as per the customary norms of the Konyaks.

They said that allowing the accused 21 Paras by the military institution to “step upon the Konyak soil” was an insensitive act and “disappointing and unacceptable.”

They said by “bringing along the killers” seemed like an “intention to hurt and aggravate” the grief of the families.

The CSOs questioned the credibility of the Indian Army Inquiry Team that had visited Ground Zero on December 29, 2021. They expressed unhappiness over the kind of questions and interrogations put on witnesses present at the site on December 4 by the inquiry team. The CSOs said this raised questions on the credibility of the Army Inquiry Team.

The CSOs said justice is being delayed and will be denied as they expressed dismay over the “snail paced Indian judiciary system.”

According to the signatories, justice would be meted only through prosecution of the accused. On the visit to Ground Zero by the Army Inquiry Team on December 29, the CSOs said such visits should not be taken as an act to appease the victims but to ensure justice by prosecution before “public domain within 30 days.” They also demanded that the government of India immediately sanction prosecution of those “Indian Army and officers involved in the killing of those 14 innocent Konyak youths” on December 4 & 5 2021. They have also warned that any move to “distort the truth, shall be considered as an act against the Konyaks.” They said the onus lie with the government of India to” prove whether Konyaks are its citizens or not.”

The CSOs reiterated that justice be delivered at the earliest and those 21 Para Special Forces involved in the massacre of 14 Konyak youths be prosecuted immediately.

‘Genocide site’: Konyak CSOs at an emergency meeting on December 27, 2021 resolved and declared the Oting Yatong massacre site as the “Genocide site” and demanded that the actual incident site should be manned by the state security forces 24/7. They also declared that no remains of the December 4 should be moved out from the original place where they still stand.

Army inquiry team visits Oting
The Indian Army’s court of inquiry (CoI) team headed by a Major General, reached Oting village under Mon district on Wednesday and visited the site where the December 4 shooting took place to understand the circumstances that led to the incident, where 13 innocent civilians were killed by the 21 Para (special forces) of the Indian Army.

According to PRO (Defence) Lt Col Sumit K Sharma, the team took along witnesses for better understanding of the situation and how the events could have unfolded that fateful day.

Thereafter, PRO said that the team went to Tizit police station and was present there between 1.30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to meet representatives from a cross section of the society, including civilians, police personnel and doctors who treated the injured, for obtaining information pertaining to the incident.

The PRO said that the court of inquiry was progressing expeditiously and all efforts were being made to conclude it at the earliest.

Earlier, the Indian Army had requested twice through public notices requesting any person having any information pertaining to the incident to directly share it either by being present before the inquiry team at Tizit police station on Wednesday or share the input, photo or video via phone, SMS or Whatsapp at 6033924571.

The army also said the information may be shared in person to the inquiry team at Dinjan Military Station in Assam.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/konyak-csos-outraged-by-21-paras-in-oting/247521.html