Nagaland: NESO "condemns SC ruling on Oting massacre
Guwahati: The North East Students' Organisation (NESO) has expressed disappointment over the Supreme Court's decision to close criminal proceedings against 30 army personnel involved in the 2021 Oting massacre in Nagaland, which claimed the lives of 14 innocent civilians.
NESO chairman Samuel B Jyrwa lamented that despite overwhelming evidence presented by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), the Supreme Court's ruling denied justice to the victims and their families.
The SIT had uncovered substantial evidence implicating the 30 personnel, including a senior officer, in the killings.
NESO criticized the Central government's refusal to grant prosecution sanction, which undermines the legal process and diminishes the rule of law in the sensitive Northeast region.
This decision, they warned, further alienates the people of the Northeast, who have long endured historical injustices and neglect.
The organization resented the fact that civilians, especially from marginalized communities, are being rendered dispensable under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
Failure to act, NESO cautioned, will deepen the cycle of mistrust and violence, further alienating the Northeast from the rest of the country.