Opinion: The Oting Killings Deserve Accountability, Centre Owes This To Nagaland

Representational image. File photo of Nagaland People's Action Committee members at a protest rally demanding early solution to political tension.

Source : PTI

On December 4, 2021, six civilians were killed in Oting village of Mon district as the Army mistook them for Naga terrorists. Later, when the news of the killings spread, an angry mob tried to attack a camp of the security forces, who were then forced open fire to save themselves, killing eight more civilians. One security personnel was also killed in that scuffle. With the Supreme Court now setting aside criminal proceedings against the 30 Army personnel of 21 Paras (Special Force), who were involved in a counter-insurgency operation that led to the killing of the 14 civilians, there is a feeling of disappointment in the village and the district in partiular, and the entire Nagaland state in general. 

The SC had earlier on July 17 issued a notice to the Centre on a Nagaland government plea challenging its refusal to grant prosecute sanction for the Army personnel for killing the civilians. The Army personnel operating under the Armed Forces Special Power Act have immunity, and if they are to be prosecuted, the permission of the Centre is required. 

Though the Supreme Court said the Army was free to take any disciplinary action against the men, it refusal to prosecute them has the potential to open old wounds in Nagaland, and also allow them to fester.

Many Naga organisations, including the influential Naga Students' Federation, have therefore expressed their dissatisfaction with the apex court.

While the mandate and immunity for armed forces are justified, the killing of innocent civilians "mistaken for terrorists" can not be. The Centre needs to set a precedent by ensuring some kind of action in the 2021 massacre. The families of the victims deserve justice. The Centre must intervene and address the concerns of the families, and also that of the Naga people. It has to be cautious so this unfortunate incident of Oting village doesn't lead to any dissent, and the local populace shouldn't feel that the Indian government doesn't care about them.  

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Sikkim CM Tamang Needs To Be Humble

The Sikkim Krantikari Morcha government has announced to double the vehicle taxes in the northeastern Himalayan state from October 1. This decision has met with opposition from the Citizen Action Party, and also the BJP. The CAP even gave a one-week ultimatum to the government to withdraw the decision.

Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang this week mocked the Opposition parties for giving the ultimatum to what he calls a "popular government". The chief minister could be heard saying the "so-called Opposition parties", particularly referring to the CAP, which failed to get even 5% votes in the recent elections, had no right to issue an ultimatum to the government.

The CAP, which contested the Assembly elections for the first time, polled 6% votes but failed to open an account.

This statement of the chief minister smells of arrogance. It's true that his SKM government returned to power for a second term this year with a big mandate, grabbing 31 out of 32 seats, but the chief minister shouldn’t forget that the mandate he got is temporary and the public doesn’t like arrogance. Instead of mocking the Opposition, he should be humble and look into the concerns of the common people and small businesses that rely on vehicles for their livelihood.

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Assam’s BJP Govt focuses on its popular Orunodoi scheme

In this year's Lok Sabha elections, the BJP was able to almost retain its strength in the northeastern state of Assam, and one of the reasons behind the saffron success was the popularity of the women-centric Orunodoi welfare scheme. The scheme was launched by the first BJP government led by Sarbananda Sonowal.

This week, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma launched the Orunodoi 3.0 scheme. The earlier Orunodoi 1.0 and 2.0 touched the lives of around 24.6 lakh women. Through the Orunodoi 3.O, the scheme would reach around 37 lakh beneficiaries, an addition of more than 12 lakh beneficiaries. Initially, beneficiaries were paid Rs 830 every month, but the amount was later increased to Rs 1,250.

Handing out a certain amount to women certainly helps in empowering women. Apart from this, it has been that such women-centric welfare schemes often pay rich dividends to the ruling party during the elections. That’s the reason there are similar schemes with different names in many states of the country — Assam BJP government’s Orunodoi scheme is also one of those. The state assembly elections are less than two years away and with the launch of Orunodoi 3.O, the message is clear that the ruling BJP is trying to strengthen itself by reaching out to more women voters, who earlier weren’t beneficiaries of the scheme.  

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Meghalaya TMC Takes Stand Opposite To Party High Command

Charles Pyngrope, president of the Meghalaya state unit of Trinamool Congress, is reported to have welcomed the recent decision of the Union Cabinet approving One Nation One Election. He called this the need of the hour, according to a report in the Shillong Times. Currently, the party is the main Opposition in the state assembly as party MLA Mukul Sangma, a former chief minister, was recently appointed the Leader of the Opposition.

This statement of Pyngrope, who is an MLA from the Nongthymmai assembly constituency, is interesting as this statement is contrary to the position taken by the TMC’s national leadership on One Nation One Election. Party supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier opposed the idea of One Nation One Election. Whether Charles Pyngrope, who heads the party’s Meghalaya unit, changes his stand or this is a subtle hint to the party’s national leadership about looking for other political options, only time will tell.  

The author is a political commentator.

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