Global Naga Forum reiterates demand for justice on Oting anniversary

DIMAPUR — Marking the fourth anniversary of the Oting incident, the Global Naga Forum (GNF) on Saturday issued a statement accusing the government of India of perpetuating what it described as “military occupation” in Naga areas and failing to deliver justice for the 13 civilians killed in Mon district on December 4, 2021.

In its remembrance statement, the forum alleged that the Oting killings had exposed “the brutality of India’s military presence” and claimed that New Delhi continued to rely on force to maintain authority in Naga-inhabited regions.

The GNF maintained that the episode remained a “national wound” for the Nagas and asserted that the deaths were not only a human tragedy but also a political assault on Naga identity.

The forum criticised what it called India’s “calculus of control,” asserting that the central government responded not to “grief, justice, or conscience,” but to strategic considerations.

It reiterated its long-standing stance that India’s approach in the Northeast undermined its own legitimacy and weakened governance in the region.

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Referring to the December 4, 2021 incident—where 13 villagers from Oting were killed by personnel of the 21 Para Special Forces in a botched operation—the GNF noted that the case was still pending before the Supreme Court.

It accused the Indian judicial system of failing to ensure accountability and alleged that “uniformed violence is protected rather than punished.”

The statement further claimed that the Oting incident was “not an aberration” but reflective of a broader pattern of militarisation and impunity. It contended that the deaths had laid bare “the true face of the occupying force.”

The GNF also reiterated its position that Nagas were “a sovereign people living under imposed Indian control,” adding that no political agreement, internal division or government resolution could alter “the historical and political reality.”

It warned that continued impunity in the region could have wider implications for India’s Northeast policy and the Indo-Myanmar frontier.

Describing the Naga worldview as rooted in “clan, land, consent, and ancestral autonomy,” the organisation maintained that this framework was incompatible with what it termed “majoritarian and centralised Indian nationhood.”

The forum maintained that the Oting represents a defining moment for the Naga people, asserting that “remembrance is our resistance” and reiterating its commitment to the pursuit of Naga sovereignty.