Kohima, Sept 20:   The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has expressed outrage over the closure of criminal proceedings against the 21 Para Special Forces (SF) personnel involved in the Oting massacre, which resulted in the deaths of 14 civilians in Mon district, Nagaland, on December 4, 2021. The NSF’s demand comes in response to the Supreme Court’s decision on September 17, 2024, to dismiss the FIRs without prosecution, which the federation calls a “gross injustice.”

In a letter addressed to the Union Home Minister, the NSF voiced its dissatisfaction with the government’s refusal to sanction the prosecution of the accused. The Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the Nagaland government had filed a chargesheet naming 30 personnel from the 21 Para SF, based on concrete evidence. “These charges were not baseless, but were backed by thorough investigations and irrefutable evidence,” the NSF stated.

The federation criticized the government’s inaction, questioning, “What is the Government of India trying to hide? Why is justice being withheld despite the gravity of the crime? By denying prosecution sanction, the government appears to be protecting the guilty rather than upholding the rule of law.”

The NSF also expressed concern over the continuation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, in the region, labeling it as a tool that enables extrajudicial killings. “AFSPA has long been opposed by the people of the Northeast for providing blanket immunity to the armed forces. It has no place in a democratic society,” the NSF declared. The group urged the government to revoke AFSPA from the Naga region, arguing that the Oting massacre exemplifies how the law is used to shield those responsible for violence against innocent civilians.

The federation also pointed to the intelligence failure that led to the wrongful identification of the victims. “This botched operation, based on poor intelligence, has taken the lives of innocent civilians. Those responsible for this failure must be held accountable,” the NSF demanded.

The NSF has made three key demands:

1. Immediate prosecution sanction for the 21 Para SF personnel involved in the massacre.

2. Complete transparency and accountability regarding the intelligence failures.

3. The immediate repeal of AFSPA from the Naga region and the entire Northeast.

The federation warned that if these demands are not addressed, it would launch peaceful protests to ensure justice is served for the victims and their families. “The Naga people will not remain silent in the face of such gross injustice,” the NSF said, urging the Government of India to take a stand for accountability and justice.

The Oting massacre remains a painful event for the Naga community, and the NSF remains steadfast in its pursuit of justice, with the aim of overturning AFSPA, which it believes has only deepened conflict and alienation in the region.