Mon Massacre: Nagaland, Manipur's Nagas observe black day
KOHIMA: Even after a year, people have not forgotten the killing of 14 civilians in Mon. Black flags were hoisted in various parts of Nagaland and Manipur on Sunday and candles were lit in memory of those killed by security forces a year ago.
In Oting, where it all began, residents celebrated ‘Black Day’ in the public square. Exactly one year ago, 14 civilians were killed by security forces. Hundreds of residents, including the families of those killed, remembered the dead.
Hymns and prayers were sung to pay tribute to the 13 innocent lives. On December 4, 2021, security forces brutally shot coal miners returning home from work over a case of ‘mistaken identity’.
In a series of incidents that followed, seven more shots were fired and one soldier was killed. The next day, another civilian was killed by security forces in Mon town, bringing the death toll to 14.
On Sunday, a team of Naga Students Federation (NSF) along with representatives of All Nagaland College Students Union, All Somi Students (SKK) and AO Students Conference (AKM) organized a function to pay tribute to their lives. who were “brutally massacred” by the Indian armed forces in Oting.
The NSF informed that the federation’s flag will remain at half-mast till Monday in honor of the innocent lives that were “brutally taken away” by its “adversaries”. NSF President Kegwayhun Tep, while addressing the gathering, reiterated the federation’s non-cooperation for Indian armed forces/paramilitary forces on Nagaland territory.
Expressing solidarity with the families of the victims, he also lamented that justice has not yet been served.
NSF General Secretary Süpuni NG Philo said that the federation and its federation units and subsidiaries will continue to work to ensure that the AFSPA, the AFSPA, is repealed from across the Naga nation. .
A candlelight vigil was also organized by various organizations including Rongmi Naga Students Organization Manipur (RNSOM), Poumai Naga Tsüdoumai Me (PNTM), Lotha Students Union (LSU), Naga Students Union Chandel.
