After 14 civilians were killed in a series of violent clashes in Nagaland, PM Narendra Modi met with key ministers on Monday morning. The key agenda of the meeting, which was held in New Delhi, was to discuss the government's response to such a sensitive issue. Now, according to sources, Union home minister Amit Shah is likely to address both houses of Parliament- Lok Sabha at 3 pm and Rajya Sabha at 4 pm on Nagaland operation that went awry.
Meanwhile, RJD leader Manoj Jha and TMC MP Sukhendu Sekhar Roy issued a suspension notice in the Rajya Sabha over the Nagaland killings.
- Gaurav Gogoi and Manickam Tagore of the Congress are among the MPs who have issued adjournment notices. Mr Gogoi denounced Army action based on "inaccurate intelligence inputs," while Mr Tagore described the killings as "heartbreaking."
- Congress's Mallikarjun Kharge raised the death of 14 civilians in the Rajya Sabha today, which set the tone for the rest of the day.
- Mallikarjun Kharge, the Leader of the Opposition, stated on Monday that the opposition parties are expecting Home Minister Amit Shah to make a statement and provide his full opinion on the Nagaland killings.
"We'll demand that the Home Minister make a statement in front of both Houses and provide a thorough account of the incident; we're expecting it. It's a highly sensitive
situation. It shouldn't have happened in the first place. He should explain why that happened," he said.
- The House was adjourned till 12:00 p.m.
- In response to calls for the centre to compensate the families, the Nagaland government has announced that families of deceased will receive Rs. 5 lakh.
- After arriving in Mon district Friday evening, the Nagaland government's Special Investigation Team (SIT) began their probe. According to Special Secretary (Home) SR Sarvanan, Sandeep Tamgadge (ADGP, Law and Order) will be in command of the overall operation, while Inspector-General of Police Limasunep Jamir will lead the on-the-ground team.
Also Read: 14 killed in Nagaland violence after army operation goes awry
- According to Nagaland Police sources, violence erupted after locals (who came running after hearing gunshots) saw security forces (the Army's 21 Para Special Forces, according to the FIR) trying to hide the bodies of people slain in a failed ambush on Saturday.
- Six civilians were killed in the initial firing, according to a preliminary investigation by Nagaland Police, who were "unarmed... travelling in an open Mahindra pick-up in broad daylight." Two more people died on the way to the hospital. Security officers were "wrapping... the deceased bodies in tarpaulin sheets to take back to their base camp," according to the police report.
- Soon after the initial killings, violence erupted and security personnel fired in "self-defence", killing five more civilians.
- At least three vehicles of security forces were set ablaze in which seven personnel were injured. They were rushed to Assam for treatment, where one succumbed to injuries.
- According to the preliminary police investigation, an anonymous witness claims that security forces "shot indiscriminately... fled to the Assam border."
- An angry mob surrounded the Assam Rifles camp the next day, resulting in violence in Mon town. According to police sources, the mob stormed in and attempted to set fire to the sector. Another person was murdered by security forces in another series of gunfire.
- The Army expressed its deepest condolences for the "unfortunate loss of lives" and promised that the situation will be probed at the "highest level."
- The special forces ambush that went horribly wrong had originated by the army acting on a tip on the movement of insurgents.
However, according to sources the 'classified op' was planned without the knowledge of local police or Assam Rifles, the para-military force which has a key role in counter-insurgency operations in the area.