The Nagaland government on Monday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the shooting in Meluri sub-division in Phek district on July 15 in which two high school students, including a girl, were killed. Official sources in Kohima said an additional district magistrate has been asked to conduct the inquiry and submit its report within 15 days. Two students, both studying in Class VII of a local high school were killed when an exchange of fire took place between security forces and armed militants when troops belonging to the 46 Assam Rifles and 12 Para Commandos were returning from an operation in Avungkhu under Meluri police station. When the troops were returning with bodies of two militants who were killed in an operation the previous night, a group of NSCN(K) militants allegedly incited the villagers to block the road and ask for handing over the bodies. Even as an officer was negotiating with the villagers, suspected NSCN(K) militants fired from a distance. The Assam Rifles has claimed that the two children were killed by bullets fired by the militants who had allegedly used the villagers as human shields against the security forces. Meanwhile, the Phek district administration on Monday issued an order prohibiting the storage, sale and wearing of combat dress and camouflage dress in the district in view of the prevailing law and order situation arising out of the death of the two children on Thursday.
