Kohima: Thirteen villagers and a soldier were killed in an Indo-Myanmar border district in Nagaland as a counter-insurgency operation went awry on Saturday, sources said. Union minister Amit Shah said a Special Investigation Team will probe the matter.
The security forces were set for a counter-insurgency operation in Mon district that borders Myanmar, sources said. Following a tip-off about the possible movement of insurgents, they had laid an ambush near Oting village on Saturday afternoon, the NDTV reported.
While confirming the incident, the Army said in a statement issued on Sunday, “Based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents, a specific operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon District, Nagaland.
They further said, “The incident and its aftermath is deeply regretted. The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law.”
“The security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries,” they added.
The incident happened in Longkhao area of Tizit sub-division, Mon district, at around 4 pm on Saturday.
According to local organisations in the area, several people are missing since the “operation”.
They said, a group of daily-wage labourers were returning home from coal mine in a pick-up truck from Tiru area, when the security forces attacked their vehicle. The workers were allegedly fired upon by the army personnel, who were reportedly in a mission to search NSCN (K) cadres, led by Yung Aung — a Myanmar based outfit cadres in the area.
During the incident, at least 10 civilians were reportedly killed. However, the local organisations said 14 civilians are missing and the army personnel were seen carrying the dead bodies till late night.
Meanwhile, the Army sources said they are still collecting the information of the operation that was going on against some underground armed cadres present in the area.
The injured jawans have been admitted in Dinjan Army Hospital in Dibrugarh district of Assam.
Meanwhile, tension prevailed in the area and various organisations protested the killing of civilians and also attacked some of the security forces and put ablaze the security vehicles.
High police officials rushed to the area and investigation over the killing of civilians is ongoing, civil sources said.
Union home minister Amit Shah tweeted: “Anguished over an unfortunate incident in Nagaland’s Oting, Mon. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. A high-level SIT constituted by the State govt will thoroughly probe this incident to ensure justice to the bereaved families.
Expressing concern over the incident, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio in a tweet said, “The unfortunate incident leading to killing of civilians at Oting, Mon is highly condemnable.
“Condolences to the bereaved families & speedy recovery of those injured. High level SIT will investigate & justice delivered as per the law of the land.Appeal for peace from all sections.”
