Many condemn Mon carnage, demand repeal of AFSPA
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, December 06 2021:
Different organisations have condemned the Oting incident in Nagaland's Mon district, in which 27 Assam Rifles killed 14 civilians, and raised the demand for repealing AFSPA from the north-eastern states.
In a joint statement, AMSU, MSF, DESAM, KSA, SUK and AIMS stated that Indian armed forces have been continuing their atrocities on the people of the northeast region with impunity due to the unbridled power granted to them under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) 1958 and the Oting incident was continuation of such security excesses.
Many innocent civilians have been tortured and killed by the security forces in the region, thereby creating a psychological threat in the minds of the public.
CSOs, Meira Paibi groups and student organisations have been demanding the government to repeal AFSPA for decades and Pebam Chittaranjan had sacrificed his life in pursuance of the demand.
The Oting incident has reminded the impact of AFSPA once again and the six student bodies stand in solidarity with the Naga people in this situation, the statement said, while praying for the slain civilians and quick recovery of the injured ones.
The statement also called for a public uprising against AFSPA across the northeast region.
Joining the condemnation chorus, All Tribal Students' Union Manipur said that the brutal act of the security forces revealed the heinous agenda of the Government of India to continue suppression and militarisation of the peace loving people of the North-eastern states and added that AFSPA should be repealed without further justification.
ATSUM also shared the grief and pain of the Naga people and extended condolence to bereaved families and prayed for speedy recovery of the injured individuals.
United Naga Council (UNC) said that the incidents was a condemnable act of terrorism perpetrated against the innocent villagers and is in no way pardonable under any circumstances.
Also condemning the incident, Liangmai Naga Council, Manipur (LNC-M) said that it was 'gruesome murders' perpetrated by 21 para troopers against the 14 unarmed innocent civilians and appealed to the authority concerned to book the perpetrators and deliver justice at the earliest.
The United All Communities' Social Uplifters (UN-ACSU), Kangleipak Manipur also termed the Oting incident as a continuation of the decades-long atrocities committed against the northeast people by the Indian security forces.
It stated that similar incident might happen anywhere and anytime to anybody and called upon the people from all sections to stand united against AFSPA.
It also shared the grief and pain of the victim families.
Naga Women's Union termed the incident as a blatant violation of human rights and condemned it in the strongest term while calling it as a massacre carried out by Assam Rifles.
Manipur Students' Association Delhi and Delhi Association of Manipuri Muslim Students also condemned the incident and demanded the government to repeal AFSPA.
North East Students' Organisation (NESO) also condemned the incident and held a condolence meet on Monday.
Zeliangrong Union (Assam, Manipur and Nagaland) also condemned the incident and demanded the authority to take up appropriate actions against the AR personnel involved in the incident.
North East Forum for International Solidarity (NEFIS) also carried out a candle light protest in the north campus of Delhi University on Monday decrying the incident and demanding repeal of AFSPA.
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