Nagaland civilian killings: SC stays felony proceedings towards 30 Army males

By PTI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has stayed felony proceedings towards 30 members of the 21 Para Special Force, together with a Major, in reference to the alleged botched Army operation in Oting-Tiru space of Nagaland’s Mon district in 2021 that claimed lives of 13 civilians.

A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and V Ramasubramanian famous that earlier sanction as required underneath Section 6 of the Armed Forces (Special 4 Powers) Act, 1958 has not been obtained.

The prime courtroom additionally issued notices to the Centre, Nagaland authorities and others on two pleas filed by the wives of Army officers named within the case.

The petitions sought quashing of the FIR lodged by the Nagaland Police and the findings of an SIT arrange by the state authorities.

The Nagaland Police had cost sheeted at the least 30 members of the 21 Para Special Force within the case.

The cost sheet has slapped prices of homicide and culpable murder not amounting to homicide on the group of troopers.

The case was re-registered by the State Crime Police Station on December 5 towards unknown individuals of the Indian Army underneath numerous sections of the IPC and investigation handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

A case underneath numerous sections of the IPC has been made out towards 30 members of the operations group of 21 Para Special Force together with two subedars, eight havildars, 4 naiks, six lance naiks and 9 paratroopers, he stated.

The state DGP had stated that the CID report in search of sanction for prosecution was forwarded to the Department of Military Affairs within the first week of April this yr and a reminder despatched in May.

The sanction for prosecution continues to be awaited, he had stated. The cost sheet has been filed, pending sanction for prosecution towards the 30 accused, he had stated.

The investigation has revealed that the Alpha group of the 21 Para Special Force consisting of 31 personnel led by a Major launched an operation in Oting Tiru Area on December 3, 2021, based mostly on intelligence inputs on the presence of a gaggle of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) (Yung Aung) (NSCN-Okay(YA) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres within the space, he had stated.

On December 4, 2021 at round 4:20 PM the operation group of 21 Para Special Force who had laid an ambush at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting Village opened hearth at a white Bolero decide up automobile which was carrying eight civilians belonging to Oting Village, most of whom have been working as labourers in coal mines at Tiru with out guaranteeing optimistic identification or difficult them, he stated.

Investigation has revealed that the Special Force Operation group had not adopted the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement and resorted to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing resulting in instant killing of the six occupants of the automobile on the spot and grievously injuring two individuals, the state DGP had stated.

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has stayed felony proceedings towards 30 members of the 21 Para Special Force, together with a Major, in reference to the alleged botched Army operation in Oting-Tiru space of Nagaland’s Mon district in 2021 that claimed lives of 13 civilians.

A bench of Justices Indira Banerjee and V Ramasubramanian famous that earlier sanction as required underneath Section 6 of the Armed Forces (Special 4 Powers) Act, 1958 has not been obtained.

The prime courtroom additionally issued notices to the Centre, Nagaland authorities and others on two pleas filed by the wives of Army officers named within the case.

The petitions sought quashing of the FIR lodged by the Nagaland Police and the findings of an SIT arrange by the state authorities.

The Nagaland Police had cost sheeted at the least 30 members of the 21 Para Special Force within the case.

The cost sheet has slapped prices of homicide and culpable murder not amounting to homicide on the group of troopers.

The case was re-registered by the State Crime Police Station on December 5 towards unknown individuals of the Indian Army underneath numerous sections of the IPC and investigation handed over to a Special Investigation Team (SIT).

A case underneath numerous sections of the IPC has been made out towards 30 members of the operations group of 21 Para Special Force together with two subedars, eight havildars, 4 naiks, six lance naiks and 9 paratroopers, he stated.

The state DGP had stated that the CID report in search of sanction for prosecution was forwarded to the Department of Military Affairs within the first week of April this yr and a reminder despatched in May.

The sanction for prosecution continues to be awaited, he had stated. The cost sheet has been filed, pending sanction for prosecution towards the 30 accused, he had stated.

The investigation has revealed that the Alpha group of the 21 Para Special Force consisting of 31 personnel led by a Major launched an operation in Oting Tiru Area on December 3, 2021, based mostly on intelligence inputs on the presence of a gaggle of National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Khaplang) (Yung Aung) (NSCN-Okay(YA) and United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) cadres within the space, he had stated.

On December 4, 2021 at round 4:20 PM the operation group of 21 Para Special Force who had laid an ambush at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting Village opened hearth at a white Bolero decide up automobile which was carrying eight civilians belonging to Oting Village, most of whom have been working as labourers in coal mines at Tiru with out guaranteeing optimistic identification or difficult them, he stated.

Investigation has revealed that the Special Force Operation group had not adopted the Standard Operating Procedure and the Rules of Engagement and resorted to indiscriminate and disproportionate firing resulting in instant killing of the six occupants of the automobile on the spot and grievously injuring two individuals, the state DGP had stated.