DIMAPUR:
The Konyak civil society organisations, Assam Rifles and Mon district administration, on February 7, held the first round-table tripartite talk, following the Oting massacre on December 4.
In the meeting, the Konyak civil societies reiterated their demands – book the officers and jawans involved in the massacre under applicable civil court, and make the report on the action taken public.
They also demanded that all Indian army camps located in the vicinity of civilian areas be vacated immediately, along with the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the state.
The Assam Rifles raised the issue of non-cooperation launched by the civil societies since the massacre and the total restriction on movement of the convoy and patrolling by the Indian armed forces in Konyak jurisdiction since December 5, 2021. They also shared their various ongoing and upcoming developmental programmes under civic action plans.
In response, the civil society organisations emphasised on the non-withdrawal of non-cooperation until justice is delivered to the victims of the Oting massacre, and said that “such a decision will be taken at the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation level,” making their stance of “justice first, development next” clear.
Requesting all the Naga political groups to adhere to the resolutions adopted by the general Konyak mass, they stressed on the importance of restraining from “unwanted activities” in pursuit of justice.
Responding to ‘when’ and ‘how’ justice would be delivered to the victims, the Assam Rifles reiterated that the judicial process is beyond their purview and assured that it would be served “by any means”.
The Konyak bodies and Mon district administration was headed by Thavaseelan K, district commissioner (DC) of Mon, while the Assam Rifles was headed by IGAR (North) Major-General Vikas Lakhera, Brigadier Sandip Chatterjee of 7 Sector Tuensang, and Lieutenant-Colonel Atong Konyak, to name a few.