Journalism of Courage
This is an archive article published on July 16, 2024
Mon killings: Supreme Court issues notice to Centre in Nagaland plea to prosecute 30 Army personnel
The Centre refused to accord sanction under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, for the prosecution of the Army personnel, said the Nagaland Government.
The alleged incident dates back to December 4, 2021, when an Army team allegedly fired at a pickup truck carrying miners in Oting village in Eastern Nagaland, mistaking them for militants, killing 6 civilians. (File)
The Supreme Court has issued notice on a plea by the Nagaland government challenging the Centre’s refusal to grant sanction to prosecute 30 personnel of the Indian Army for the death of 13 civilians during an operation in the state’s Mon district in 2021.
A three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India D Y Chandrachud gave the Centre six weeks to file its response.
The Nagaland Government informed the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, that the Centre had refused to accord sanction under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, for their prosecution, even though there was enough evidence against the accused Army officials.
The alleged incident dates back to December 4, 2021, when an Army team allegedly fired at a pickup truck carrying miners in Oting village in Eastern Nagaland, mistaking them for militants, killing 6 civilians. Eight more civilians were killed after security forces allegedly opened fire after the incident triggered violence in the area.
After the incident, the Nagaland Assembly in a special session “unanimously resolved” to demand the Centre to repeal AFSPA from Nagaland.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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