The Global Naga Forum remembered the tragic massacre of 14 innocent civilians in Oting, Mon district, on December 4, 2021. In a statement, it said that the heinous crime, perpetrated by the Indian Army under the shield of the draconian Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA), remains an indelible scar on the collective conscience of the Naga people.
“Adding insult to injury, the Union Home Minister shamelessly dismissed this massacre in the Parliament as an act of ‘mistaken identity,’ an explanation that defies justice and humanity,” the statement read, calling the official response a severe blow to the victims’ families and the Naga community.
The forum also criticized the rejection by the Supreme Court of India of a petition filed by the Nagaland government seeking the prosecution of those responsible. It said, “Such actions not only disregard the pain and loss endured by the victims’ families but also perpetuate a culture of impunity,” highlighting the ongoing failure to hold the perpetrators accountable.
The GNF extended its deepest condolences to the bereaved families, stressing that their grief has been further compounded by the government’s inability to deliver justice. “As we remember the lives of the innocent taken on that fateful day, we reaffirm our unwavering commitment to stand with the families in their quest for truth and justice,” the statement added.
The forum also used the occasion to reiterate its call for the repeal of AFSPA, a law that has long been associated with violence and oppression in Nagaland and the broader Northeast region. “The Oting massacre reminds us of the urgent need to repeal AFSPA, a law that has long inflicted violence and oppression on the people of Nagaland and the Northeast,” it said. The GNF called on every citizen and institution in India to rise against such state-sanctioned atrocities and demand accountability, justice, and respect for human dignity.
“We pray for the departed souls and stand in solidarity with their families,” the forum concluded. “Justice delayed must not become justice denied. Let the cry for justice from Oting echo across the nation and awaken its conscience.”