Nagaland Firing Incident: Probe Complete & Report Under Legal Scrutiny, Says Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande

The Army chief mentioned that the report on the incident also looked into the aspects including revision of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and refining the drills.

Army chief General Manoj Pande ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, who took charge as the new Army chief last month, informed on Monday that the investigation into the firing incident in Nagaland's Mon district that took place on December 4 is now complete and the report is undergoing legal scrutiny. The situation in the border state of Nagaland remained tense after the botched counter-insurgency operation at Oting village in Mon district of Nagaland claimed the lives of 14 civilians, according to PTI report.

Talking to reporters, Gen Pande said, "The investigation into the Mon incident has been completed. The report has been submitted and presently the legal scrutiny of the report is taking place." A high-level inquiry headed by a Major General was constituted to probed the firing incident.

What did Army Chief hinted about the report?

Interacting with a group of journalists, Gen Pande pointed out that the standard operating procedures and drills may be refined based on the findings of the report.

"Just like in the past, if we find some personnel who have not followed the standard operating procedures and guidelines, action as per the due process of military law will be taken," he said, according to PTI report.

Sharing certain details, the Army chief mentioned that the report on the incident looked into the aspects including revision of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and refining the drills.

"It is all part of the report," he stressed when asked whether the Army is changing any SOP. He said that the process to address any shortcomings would be based on the findings of the report and added "some of it has already happened" .

Other than the Court of Inquiry by the Army, the state government also appointed a Special Investigation Team to probe the incident. The Army had described the incident as "highly regrettable".