The Nagaland police will question the Army jawans involved in the December 4 killing of 13 civilians. One soldier was also killed in clashes with the locals. The soldiers may be questioned on Thursday.
The Army has agreed to allow Nagaland’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine and record the statements of officers and jawans who were involved in the killing.
The killing of a group of civilians returning from work in a minibus on that day reportedly by the soldiers in a case of mistaken identity led to irate village folks clashing with the troops. They had to open fire leading to some more deaths. It led to mass unrest in the State.
The Nagaland SIT is likely to complete recording the statements of the 21 Para Special Forces soldiers this week, top police sources said. It’s not yet clear if the soldiers will be interrogated by the SIT or they will only submit prepared statements.
The State Government immediately instituted an SIT which will question the soldiers of the elite commando unit allegedly involved in the incident. So far, they have not been questioned by the SIT, sources said here on Wednesday. They are likely to depose before the SIT in Jorhat, sources said.
A Major General is heading the court of inquiry to probe all angles of the incident and an Army team is now in Oting, Mon district for probe. Home Minister Amit Shah had expressed regret over the incident in Parliament.
The incident led to the renewal of demand to remove the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from Nagaland. The Centre earlier this week set up a five-member committee to look into the issue of repealing the Act.
The committee is headed by Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India Vivek Joshi and Additional Secretary in the Union Home Ministry Piyush Goyal is the Member-Secretary. The Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP) of Nagaland and the DGP of Assam Rifles will be the other members. It is expected to file its report within 45 days.
As regards the Army team’s visit in Oting in Mon district on Wednesday, officials had said on Monday here and Kohima the “Indian Army Inquiry Team solicits from the public at large any primary information (not forwarded or not from secondary source) pertaining to the incident. “Any person having such information and desirous of deposing before the Inquiry is requested to do so at Tizit Police Station,” it said.
This statement came a day after the Indian Army in a communique on Sunday said: “We once again deeply regret the loss of lives during the December four incident in Mon District. Loss of lives is indeed sad and unfortunate.
The inquiry ordered by the Army is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest. “We have taken out notices for people to come forward and assist us in the inquiry by providing any information including videos, photos or any other material from original sources and will be grateful for the same. This can be conveyed on WhatsApp Messenger at +916026930283 or Army Exchange Helpline +913742388456.