Many condemn Oting Massacre
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 06 2021: Following the killing of civilians by Assam Rifles in Oting village in Mon district on the night of December 4, various organisations have condemned the incident and called for repealing AFSPA from the region.

The North East Students' Organisation (NESO), which comprises student representatives from the 8 North Easter States; North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS); Apunba Maheiroi Lup 6 (AMSU, MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK and AIMS); Manipur Students' Association Delhi (MSAD), Delhi Association of Manipur Muslim Students (DAMMS) and Zeliangrong Students' Union Delhi (ZSUD) condemned the incident in press releases issued today.

The students' unions also demanded 'draconian' law like AFSPA which gives legal immunity to men in uniform with sweeping powers but fails to guarantee the citizen protection from its misuse.

Such laws are undemocratic and unconstitutional and should be repealed, added the statements.

Killing civilians in the name of security measures have been a regular feature in the region and the impunity enjoyed by the armed forces under AFSPA has been used to strike terror into the population of the regions such that people are force to live under constant fear, said NEFIS in another statement.

Apunba Maheiroi Lup 6 said the misuse of AFSPA has been very frequent in Manipur and recalled Pebam Chittaranjan who became a human torch and gave his life as a protest against the AFSPA.

Denouncing the incident in the strongest terms, the Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur & Nagaland) in a press release termed it as an inhuman act of violence and urged that the culprits involved must be awarded befitting punishments as per the law of the land.

The union expressed solidarity with the ENPO and the bereaved family in this crucial time and affirmed to extend unflinching support in the pursuit of justice.

Maram Union, Naga Women's Union, ATSUM and National Socialist Women's Organisation of Nagalim, NEFIP and UNACSU also condemned the incident.

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