Several Muslim organisations, student groups have condemned the killing of 13 civilians, who were gunned down by security forces in Nagaland’s Mon district on Saturday evening.
In a statement on Monday, the Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) described the incident as a “new low in the brutality of Armed forces.”
“It is high time for laws like AFSPA, which grant the armed forces a virtual ‘license to kill’, to be completely repealed and rolled back. We as a society must also rethink the meaning of national security, and how this whole paradigm impacts the lives and security of actual people,” SIO President Mohammad Salman Ahmad said.
Fraternity Movement in a statement said blamed laws like the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), for giving impunity to armed forces, which it said is used to “commit crimes against civilians and get away with it easily.”
Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) also expressed shock and concern over the killings. JIH Vice President Prof. Mohammad Salim Engineer said the incident shows the failure of the intelligence apparatus.
“JIH feels that it is very important for the Army to be extremely careful and sensitive while dealing with civilians in an area under their control for restoring or administering law and order. There should be strict compliance with the guidelines regarding dealing with civilians during some suspected activity. We hope these incidents are not repeated and justice is ensured to the bereaved families”, he said in a statement.
The Popular Front of India said the impunity enjoyed by the armed forces because of laws like AFSPA is “alarming”. PFI chairman O.M.A Salam squarely blamed the government for the incident.
“The Home Minister and Defence Minister can’t get away from the responsibility of these cold-blood murders by merely expressing their anguish. There should be a thorough probe into the incident and the victims should be ensured justice,” said O.M.A Salam said.
As many as four political parties based out of the Northeast and two chief ministers from the region have demanded the repeal of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) after the incident.
Addressing reporters on December 6 after attending the funeral services of those killed in the December 4 incident at Oting village of the Mon district, Nagaland chief minister and the seniormost leader of the National Democratic People’s Party (NDPP) Neiphiu Rio, said, “I have spoken to the Union home minister and he is taking the matter very seriously. We have given financial assistance to the affected families. I have also urged the Union government to remove AFSPA from Nagaland as the law is a black spot on the image of the country.”
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