Massive protest in 5 Nagaland districts, locals seek justice over civilian killings

Guwahati: Thousands participated in massive rallies held in five districts of Nagaland demanding justice to 14 civilians killed by security forces on December 4. The rallies in Mon, Kiphire, Tuensang, Noklak and Longleng covered the entire of eastern Nagaland. Mon district, where the killings happened, also observed a dawn to dusk bandh.

Major bodies of the region, including Konyak Union and Eastern Nagaland People's Organization are spearheading the protest.

ENPO has declared non-cooperation with security forces until justice is delivered to victims of the killings. The Konyak Union had directed that no Konyak youth should participate in any Army recruitment. It also asked all customary landowners to immediately denounce the land agreement deals for setting up military base camps.


ENPO asked the people to "abstain from national celebrations or such activities; non-participation in Army civic programmes; non-attendance of official invitations, and not to allow any recruitment drive within eastern Nagaland."

It said the security forces involved in the killings should be booked under relevant laws of the country and tried by a civil court. It also demanded that home minister Amit Shah retract his statement in Parliament on mistaken identity and self defence, apart from repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958.

The Army had said the incident would be investigated at the highest level.