Mokokchung, 13 April (MTNews): The Defense Ministry’s military affairs department denied prosecution sanction against all 30 security forces personnel suspected of killing civilians at Oting.
The information was communicated to the Mon district and session judge court by the Nagaland police’s crime cell police station and the special investigation team (SIT) formed by the state government to investigate the killings, according to a DIG (CID) release.
It may be recalled that thirteen civilians were killed in a botched operation by the security forces at Oting on 5 December 2021, and another person was killed the following day in subsequent violence in Mon.
On 5 December 2021, the home department (political branch) issued an order establishing an SIT of the Nagaland police. Following the end of the investigation on 24 March 2022, the SIT sought sanction for prosecution from the Defense Ministry’s military affairs department against the accused members of the security forces engaged in the event, the release said.
According to the statement, the charge sheet in the case was submitted in the Mon district and session court against the accused people on 30 May 2022, following the completion of the investigation and pending the receipt of sanction for prosecution.
According to the release, prosecution sanction from the government of India is required before beginning any proceedings against security services personnel for any actions taken while carrying out their duty under Section 197(2) of the CrPC and Section 6 of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA).
It went on to say that the wives of the accused security personnel had also petitioned the Supreme Court for a stay of proceedings in the case.
The Supreme Court had stayed any further proceedings in the matter in an interim ruling dated 19 July, 2022.