The Manipur Congress lashed out at the National Democratic Alliance government for the indiscriminate killing of civilians and injuring of several others by the Indian Armed Forces at Oting village in Mon district of Nagaland.
Condemning the incident in the strongest term, AICC Manipur in-charge Bhakta Charan Das on Monday alleged Union Home Minister Amit Shah of being an irresponsible commander and demanded his resignation.
Speaking to the media at the office of MPCC in Imphal, Das said an enquiry committee should be formed at the earliest to probe the incident and serve justice to the victims.
When the Centre is in a ceasefire agreement with the NNPGs, what is the agenda of such attack, he questioned, adding, “It shows that the ministry completely failed in monitoring and supervising the Armed Forces in Nagaland.”
"We cannot accept the nature of the BJP-led government in the Centre and Nagaland. They cannot play with the life of the innocents,” Das added.
Even though AFSPA is implemented in Nagaland, controlling it lies upon the hands of the ministry and its commander, the union home minister, he said, adding that as a result Amit Shah should be held fully responsible.
“The government in Nagaland and the NDA government are not concerned about the life of the soldiers and civilians. No one is able to live peacefully though 99 per cent wants peace,” said Das.
He also demanded compensation of Rs 1 crore each for the 15 deceased and Rs 10 lakh each for the injured civilians.
Ukhrul MLA Alfred Arthur who also attended the press briefing said that though AFSPA is implemented in Nagaland, the Act does not operate by itself; it is the people in authority who should be acting responsibly.
AFSPA has been implemented since British colonial rule, it is accountable by the people who hold power, he added.
He said, "The Mon firing incident is one of the worst incidents and most consequential murder of civilians by the Army. It clearly shows the level and standard of the Government of India by fighting against its own civilians... We cannot accept the army’s statement of intercepting the armed cadres in Nagaland when the only non-cease fire armed group (NSCN-K) is operating in Myanmar and not in Nagaland.
The Armed Forces are breaking the ceasefire protocol, they should make a clear cut stand on whether they are maintaining the ceasefire agreement, he added.
"The Armed Forces are constituted to ensure that the rights of the citizens are protected and not to annihilate them," the MLA said.
He also demanded resignation of the Home minister of Nagaland for such tremendous failure in the law and order situation.
The press briefing was also attended by CLP leader O Ibobi, CWC member Gaikhangam, MPCC president N Lokendra among other MPCC leaders.
