Case of mistaken identity: Shah; SIT formed, Opp boycotts RS
Expressing regret over the Nagaland firing incident, Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday told both Houses of Parliament that a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) will be completed within a month and asserted that all agencies must ensure such happenings do not recur while taking action against insurgents.
The Opposition barring the Trinamool Congress in the Lok Sabha boycotted saying the Home Minister’s statement is not enough and the Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day due to ruckus as Opposition sought more clarifications.
First making statement in the Lok Sabha at 3 pm and later in the Rajya Sabha at 4 pm, Shah said the Government is keeping a close watch on the evolving situation and necessary measures are being taken to ensure peace and tranquility in the region. The State authorities, as a precautionary measure, have imposed prohibitory orders in the affected areas, he informed the House. Shah offered deepest condolences to the families of those killed in the case of mistaken identity on December 4 and subsequent episodes.
“The Government of India sincerely regrets this unfortunate incident in Nagaland and offers its deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives,” the Home Minister said, admitting the fault committed by the Army’s Special Forces. Narrating the sequence of events, Shah said the Army received information on the movement of insurgents in Nagaland’s Mon and “21 Para Commando” unit laid an ambush. A vehicle was signalled to stop but it tried to speed away.
Suspecting the presence of insurgents in the vehicle, the security personnel opened fire, he said.
Six out of eight occupants of the vehicle died in the firing by security forces, said Shah, adding that later, it was found to be “a case of mistaken identity”. Two persons who sustained injuries were evacuated to the medical facilities by the Army personnel. He said local people, on getting news of the firing, surrounded and attacked the troops and one soldier was killed in the violence while several others were injured. Shah said that in self-defence and to disperse the crowd, the troops had to open fire in which seven more civilians were killed.
The Home Minister said on Sunday evening, an agitated crowd targeted Assam Rifles company operating base and forces had to open fire in which one civilian was killed. It has been decided that all agencies must ensure such incidents do not happen in the future during action against insurgents, he said.
Quoting an Army statement, Shah said the cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per law.
“Ministry of Home Affairs also deputed additional secretary, in-charge of North East to Kohima wherein he held a meeting with the chief secretary and other senior officers of the State Government of Nagaland and senior officers of para-military forces today morning.
“The situation was reviewed in detail to ensure that normalcy is restored at the earliest,” he said.
Dissatisfied with the statement, Opposition parties, including the Congress, DMK, SP, BSP and the NCP walked out of the House. They said neither there was any mention of compensation nor of action against the guilty. The members of the Trinamool Congress did not join the walk-out.
In the Rajya Sabha, Shah made the statement amid the din before the House was finally adjourned for the day. Previously the House saw four adjournments of varied durations. As soon the House reassembled at 4 pm after the fourth adjournment of the day, Deputy Chairman Harivansh called Shah to make his statement. As the Minister was making his statement, Opposition members kept raising slogans against the Government.
After Shah finished his statement, Harivansh asked the protesting members to go back to their seats from the well of the House to seek any clarification for the Minister. He adjourned the House for the day as the protesting members refused to relent.