Kohima: The Naga Students’ Federation (NSF) has praised the Nagaland State Government for filing a writ petition in the Supreme Court of India, challenging the central government’s refusal to sanction the prosecution of Indian Army personnel involved in the Oting massacre of December 2021.
The student body said that this decisive action highlights the state’s commitment to justice and accountability in response to severe human rights violations.
The NSF pointed out that the Oting massacre, which resulted in the tragic loss of 13 innocent lives—including six mine workers and seven villagers—shook the entire Naga community and highlighted the urgent need for accountability. Despite a thorough investigation by the State Government’s Special Investigation Team (SIT), identifying the culpable army personnel, the Central Government’s refusal to grant prosecution sanction has been a significant impediment to justice.
“The Supreme Court’s decision to issue a notice to the Union Ministries of Defence and Home Affairs is a significant development. The Federation stands in solidarity with the State Government’s petition, emphasizing the necessity of judicial review in cases where there is a refusal of prosecution sanction, as upheld in the landmark Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) v. Union of India case,” it said.
Furthermore, the NSF reiterated its call for the repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the Naga homeland. The Oting incident, it said, reminds of the deep-seated issues associated with AFSPA, which has frequently led to severe human rights abuses under the guise of maintaining law and order.
The NSF called upon the Government of India to recognise the widespread demand for the repeal of AFSPA and take immediate steps to withdraw this contentious law from the Naga homeland.
In line with this stance, the NSF reaffirmed its directive for non-cooperation with the armed forces until AFSPA is repealed from the Naga homeland. The Federation urges all its federating units and subordinate bodies to implement this non-cooperation directive in both letter and spirit within their respective jurisdictions. This stance is not merely symbolic but a substantive demand for accountability and respect for the rights and dignity of the Naga people.
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The Federation said that it will continue to monitor developments in this case and work alongside other civil society organisations to ensure that the victims’ voices are heard, and justice is served.
The NSF also called on all Naga citizens and civil society organisations to unite in this crucial moment and support the State Government’s efforts to hold the perpetrators accountable and bring about much-needed reforms.
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