30 Years On: The flames of ‘Ayatai’ still burn in Mokokchung memory

A justice that never came

Thirty years ago, on December 27, 1994, the heart of Mokokchung was shattered by an act of violence that claimed lives, homes, and a sense of security. But on December 27, 2024, as candles lit up the main police point in Mokokchung Town where smoke once lingered, the people of Mokokchung town sent a message: they remember, they mourn, and they endure.

During the commemoration of the event through a candlelight vigil, Lanukaba Imchen reflected on the historical struggles of the Naga people. He spoke about their identity as a sovereign people, emphasizing their resistance against British and Indian rule. By 1956, he said, almost all Ao villages, except for a few, were burned as part of the ongoing Naga struggle against foreign domination. “This struggle was not limited to Mokokchung,” he added. “It happened all across Naga area.”

The imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in 1958 escalated tensions further. The act granted sweeping powers and impunity to the Indian Army, deepening civilian fears and resentment. ‘Ayatai’ was just one among many examples of the Armed Forces’ excesses in the Northeast.

The tragedy

On the fateful day of December 27, 1994, according to records, Imchen said, eight women were raped, five people were burned alive, and two others were shot dead by the Indian Armed Forces (16th Maratha Light Infantry). In addition, three members of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) and two Indian Army personnel, including a colonel, lost their lives.

A solidarity statement issued by the Naga Students’ Union Delhi (NSUD) and the Naga People’s Movement for Human Rights (NPMHR) Delhi Unit back in January 1995 called the incident “one of the blackest days in the annals of democracy.” The statement alleged that an exchange of fire between the 16th MLI and the NSCN claimed the life of Lt Col Poonacha of the 16th MLI and seven others.

“Taking this as an excuse, the 16th MLI, under the command of Maj Deepak and a section of the 10^th Assam Rifles went about “systematically wreaking vengeance on the innocent citizens,” continued the statement.

The statement described how Army units blocked all outside contact, placed soldiers at strategic locations, and used mortar shells and grenades on residential areas in total contravention of Geneva Convention norms. Residential areas were set ablaze, leaving behind devastation.

Imchen alleged that the incident appeared to be “preplanned” as landlines were cut off while the 16th Maratha Light Infantry (MLI) surrounded the town on the fateful day. “In the early morning, soldiers rushed into houses under the pretext of checking and reportedly looted gold and money. Many civilians were physically assaulted,” he said. Imchen recalled that by around 10:11 am, the firing started and many fled into different directions including the shops. The army then shut down the shutters of the shops and captured men, women and children.

“Eight women came forward with their testimony that they were raped. Because of their brave testimony, the National Human Rights Commission visited us,” said Imchen. He further narrated how threads, wools and clothes from the shop were used to make fire by pouring kerosene and set the buildings ablaze. “People were asked to lie down on the floor,” said Imchen who also owned a shop in the town back then.

Meanwhile the statement from the NSUD-NPMHR read, “To inflict physical torture and humiliation on the people, they were forced to crawl on the streets and herded together like animals”. It further mentioned how civilians were tortured, looted, and raped, with even civil officers spared no dignity.

The recorded loss of lives included: 5 burned to death, 2 civilians gunned down, 3 NSCN-K Cadres, two Indian Army including a Colonel. The recorded damages included 84 houses, 89 shops, 17 vehicles, and seven two-wheelers destroyed, excluding those demolished by shelling and firing.

“I was a witness there. To me, this police point is a graveyard because I saw with my own eyes what happened that day,” Chuchang, a Dobashi told MT who was present at the commemoration service.

Allegations of a cover-up

The NSUD and NPMHR-Delhi Unit’s statement accused the Government of India and the State of Nagaland, along with the national media, of “whitewashing” the Army’s actions. The Army Mukhyalaya reportedly issued a sanitized report, ignoring the allegations of rape, looting, and extortion, and claimed that the fire was caused by a series of LPG cylinder explosions. This narrative was carried by national news agencies PTI and UNI in Kohima, according to the statement.

“The state government, on its part, set up a three-member committee to investigate the incident,” the statement added. “However, the committee comprised officials from the State Home Department, police, and Assam Rifles—the very entities accused of responsibility for the incident.”

While this account from the NSUD-NPMHR paints a grim picture of the army’s actions, the military’s perspective offers a different interpretation of the events that unfolded that day.

As per “Honourpoint – An online memorial for every Indian Soldier,” a platform dedicated to honoring the service of Indian military personnel, a contributor by the name Brig Satish Malik wrote under Lt Col KB Poonacha’s profile: “In Mokokchung town of Nagaland, on 27 Dec 1994 around 10:40 am, there were elements of NSCN (I&M) and NSCN (K) trying to gain supremacy over each other and simultaneously the routine patrol of 16 Maratha LI also arrived on the scene. Firing started from three sides and leading scout Sep Rajaram Khot was the first casualty. Lt Col KB Poonacha who was at the base nearby, lead his team from the front to the scene and despite being hit with a bullet in his right hand which pierced his palm and the pistol he was holding he kept leading till he was hit by another bullet and died on the spot with his boots on. Eight insurgents and all of NSCN (I&M) factions were killed and weapons were recovered from all. His gallant actions only confirm the ethos of Indian Army and motivation for future generations”.

Honourpoint is operated by Honourpoint Foundation – a registered trust with the Government of India.

Efforts for justice

Speaking at the event, MB Longkumer recounted his journey with the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC). On January 17, 1995, Longkumer, selected as a one-man committee by the Ao Senden, traveled to Delhi. The NSUD, NPMHR and former MP Imchalemba extended their support, helping him secure a meeting with the NHRC Chairperson on January 25, 1995.

“They were heartbroken when I showed them the pictures and newspaper clippings,” Longkumer recalled. The NHRC promised an ex-gratia recommendation of Rs 1 crore for the losses of lives and assets endured and sent an investigating officer to Mokokchung on February 5, 1995. On April 26, 1995, the NHRC Chairperson, along with six members, visited Mokokchung to meet victims and witnessed the extent of the tragedy firsthand.

Longkumer also recounted how, with the help of various organizations, a public rally was organized in New Delhi on January 28, 1995. About 35 organizations, including including the All-India Tribal Students’ Union, JNU students, Manipur Students Association Delhi, professors from IIT Delhi and JNU, and officers from Kenya and Sudan, supported the mass public rally.

Lingering questions

Despite these efforts, Ayatai remains a symbol of justice delayed and denied. A memorial once stood in the heart of Mokokchung, etched with the name Ayatai and a commemoration of the innocent lives lost. However, it has since been removed, leaving many to wonder about the erasure of this painful chapter from public memory.

As Mokokchung lights candles to honor the victims of Ayatai, questions of accountability and justice remain unresolved. Imchen, reflecting on the current state of affairs, said, “The disappearance of the Ayatai monument is heartbreaking. It is a reminder of how the story of our people, our struggle, and our loss has been ignored.”

“There is no case registered in the Supreme Court till date,” Longkumer told MT.

During the event, a minute of silence was observed for the victims, and the song “Ayatai” was performed by Lenjeter. Aowati Ozükum, Vice President of the Ao Senden, led the event, while prayers were offered by Kikum Longkumer, Pastor of Kumlong Baptist Arogo, and Matsüng Longkumer, Associate Pastor of Sungkomen Baptist Arogo.

As Mokokchung lights candles and remembers the tragedy, the flames of memory burn bright, but the justice they seek has yet to come.