New Delhi: Hours after hundreds of Nagaland people gave an emotional farewell to 14 civilians killed in an unsuccessful operation by security forces in Mon district on December 4, the Congress said a delegation would visit the violence-hit state on Wednesday.
Speaking about the same, Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi said that a Congress delegation will visit Nagaland tomorrow to meet the families of those killed in the anti-militancy operation in Mon district on Saturday.
According to reports, Congress interim president Sonia Gandhi has constituted a four-member team to visit Nagaland and submit a report on civilian casualties within a week.
The party has questioned the failure of security agencies to separate unarmed civilians from hardcore terrorists and has also demanded a probe and detailed statement from Home Minister Amit Shah and Defense Minister Rajnath Singh.
TMC delegation to meet Amit Shah on Wednesday
Trinamool Congress (TMC) parliamentary delegation has sought an appointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the Nagaland violence. According to reports, TMC leaders will meet Shah at around 3.45 pm on Wednesday.
The delegation will submit a memorandum, among others, seeking compensation for the families of civilians killed in Nagaland and asked the government to clarify its position on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), news agency close to PTI said. Sources told.
Nagaland Violence
The first incident in which six civilians were killed occurred on Saturday evening when Army personnel mistook coal mine workers returning home in a pickup van to be terrorists belonging to the Yung Aung faction of the outlawed NSCN(K).
When the workers could not reach their homes, local youths and villagers went out in search of them and surrounded the army vehicles. In the ensuing scuffle, one soldier was killed and several army vehicles were gutted. After this, seven more civilians were killed in self-defense firing by the soldiers.
According to the police, the riots continued a day later when an angry mob ransacked the offices of the Konyak Union and the Assam Rifles camp in the area, setting parts of the camp on fire.
Another civilian reportedly died as security forces retaliated on the attackers, taking the death toll to 15.
Meanwhile, the Indian Army has ordered a Court of Inquiry, headed by an officer of the rank of Major General, into the Nagaland incident.
In the Lok Sabha, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the central government expressed regret over the death of 14 civilians in the unfortunate incident and offered condolences to the families of those killed. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi has met senior ministers to discuss the issue.
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