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DIMAPUR — The Global Naga Forum (GNF) has sharply criticised a recent Supreme Court ruling terminating criminal proceedings against 30 Indian Army personnel involved in the 2021 Oting massacre.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the GNF said that the Supreme Court’s September 17 decision “sends a disheartening message that justice will remain out of reach for the victims and their families.”
The forum viewed the ruling as part of a larger pattern of impunity regarding violence perpetrated against the Naga people under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) of 1958, and cited past incidents such as “the 1994 Mokokchung rape and pillage and the 1995 Kohima massacre, and the killing of students in Wuzu, among others.”
Also read: SC closes criminal proceedings in Oting killing case with caveat
“The Naga people, who have endured decades of oppression, view this ruling as an affront to their pursuit of justice and accountability. The Oting massacre was a clear violation of human rights, and the attempt to dismiss the plea for prosecution undermines both the credibility of the judicial process and public trust in the rule of law”, read the statement.
The GNF urged Nagaland government to immediately file a review petition with the Supreme Court, emphasising the need for accountability and justice for the victims and their families.
“The Supreme Court must reconsider its ruling, taking into account the severe human rights violations that occurred during the Oting incident”, it said, adding that the ruling is “not only an attack on the victims of the Oting massacre but also on the collective rights of marginalised communities across India that continue to suffer under AFSPA’s oppressive regime.”
It also called upon civil society organisations, tribal bodies, human rights defenders, Naga political groups, and all concerned citizens to condemn the ruling and demand the repeal of AFSPA. “The misuse of AFSPA and the continued militarisation of the Naga homeland have long plagued the region, and it is crucial for all parties to raise their voices in solidarity,” it said.
Further, the GNF called for a meaningful dialogue between the Indian government and the Naga people to achieve a political settlement, rather than perpetuating cycles of violence and impunity.
The forum stands with the victims and calls for collective action to ensure that the innocent lives lost in the Oting massacre are not forgotten, and that justice prevails, it added.