GUWAHATI: Samuel Risom, a former MLA from Ukhrul in Manipur, has sought the resignation of Union Home Minister Amit Shah "for telling lies in the Parliament" in regards to the killing of 14 civilians in eastern Nagaland's Mon district over "mistaken identity."
"Pending the final inking of Indo—NagaTalk, Indian Army must be withdrawn from Nagaland immediately," he said in a statement, nefore going on to question: "Farmers killed by 3 agri—marketing laws are demanding 1 crore each as compensation. Why shouldn't we demand 3 crore each for each killed by Indian Army?"
"Union Home Minister must resign for telling lies in the Parliament,"Risom added in his statement.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah informed Parliament Monday that “a team of 21 para-commandos of Indian Army laid an ambush” for insurgents in Mon district on December 4 evening but “it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.”
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He said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been constituted and directed to complete the investigation within one month. The situation, he said, was “reviewed in detail to ensure that normalcy is restored at the earliest” and all agencies are being told to “ensure that no such unfortunate incident recurs in future while undertaking operations against insurgents”.
In identical statements in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Shah said: “The Government of India sincerely regrets this unfortunate incident in Nagaland and expresses its deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives.”
On the contrary, Nagaland Director-General of Police T. John Longkumer (IPS) and Commissioner Rovilatua Mor (IAS) have stated that 9 villagers moving in a pick up truck were ambushed and killed by Security Forces (reportedly, 21 Para Special Force based in Assam ) at random, apparently without any attempt for identification.
Meanwhile, Nagaland continues to simmer in rage and despair after the unfortunate incident, with regional political heavyweights as well as civil society bodies seeking the repeal of the 'draconian' AFSPA in light of the incident.