The Supreme Court on Tuesday quashed the criminal proceedings against 30 Army personnel involved in a botched counter-insurgency operation in Nagaland’s Mon district in 2021, which resulted in the killing of 14 civilians. The two-judge bench clarified, however, that the order would not prevent the Army from taking disciplinary action against the personnel involved.
“The proceedings in the impugned FIRs shall stand closed. However, if sanction is granted, it may be taken to its logical conclusion. On disciplinary action, we have said the Armed Forces can do the needful,” the bench was quoted by India Today. This ruling followed an appeal by the wife of one of the implicated officers.
The Centre had earlier refused to grant sanction for prosecution under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), 1958, a legal requirement for prosecuting military personnel operating in areas where AFSPA is enforced.
Despite the Nagaland government’s plea and claims of sufficient evidence, the Centre has maintained its position against granting prosecution approval.
The case pertains to a tragic incident on December 4, 2021, in which Army personnel, mistaking civilians for militants, opened fire on a pickup truck in Oting village, killing six miners. The situation escalated as security forces allegedly fired at civilians after violence erupted, leading to the deaths of eight more individuals.
In response to the incident, the Nagaland Legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution urging the Centre to repeal AFSPA from the state. On July 17, the Supreme Court issued a notice to the Centre on the Nagaland government’s challenge to the refusal of sanction, giving the government six weeks to file its response.
MTNews Desk | 17 September
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