Our Reporter
Dimapur, Dec. 12 (EMN): The Oting Village Council on Sunday stated that an amount of INR 18, 30, 000 was brought before the council as ex-gratia on Dec. 5 through Minister Paiwang Konyak and deputy commissioner of Mon on behalf of the Nagaland government.
However, the council has affirmed that the amount will not be received unless the victims are delivered justice and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) is repealed from the region.
In a statement, the council said that the amount was brought in an envelope ‘when the people of Oting were busy facing and struggling with the crucial period of time with post mortem, Konyak Union meeting, funeral arrangement, receiving guests etc’.
“This envelope containing an amount of INR. 18, 30,000/- (Eighteen Lakhs Thirty Thousand only) was brought before the Village Council by our Minister and Deputy Commissioner Mon. The Village Council Oting assume as a token of love and gift from the Honourable Minister Paiwang Konyak 41 A/c Tizit.
“After knowing the fact that it was an advance payment or installment of an ex-gratia from the State Government for the victim's family and injured person, the Village Council Oting and victim family will not receive until and unless the culprit of 21 Para Commandos of the Indian Arm Force are brought to justice before the Civil code of law and Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) repealed from the entire North Eastern region of India’, it read.
The statement was appended with the signatures of the chairman Longwang Konyak; Angh Tahwang; Deputy Angh Chingwang; Gaon Bura Mongnyei; and Gaon Bura Nyanei.