After 14 civilians in Nagaland were killed in a botched up Indian Army operation, the victims’ families have refused compensation by the state government until the Army personnel involved in the killings are ‘brought to justice’ and the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act is removed from the Northeast.

Last week, on December 4, six villagers were killed in Mon district, Nagaland in an ambush by the Indian Armed Forces. The security forces, as stated by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, ‘mistook’ these villagers for militants. Later, seven other civilians were shot dead by the security forces at Oting, as a crowd attacked the security forces. The violence also caused the death of one soldier.

The Nagaland government announced an ex-gratia of Rs 500,000 as compensation to each of the families of the 14 people killed, and Rs 50,000 to those injured.

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In a statement, Oting Village Council, clarified that an envelope containing an amount of Rs 1,830,000 was brought before the Village Council by Paiwang Konyak, member of the Nagaland Legislative Assembly from the Tizit constituency in Mon district, and Deputy Commissioner of Mon district, Thavaseelan K.

A statement by the Village Council on December 12, stated that the families of those who died or were injured, would not accept the ex-gratia compensation from the state government, until the culprits of 21st Para Commandos of the Indian Arm Force were  brought to justice before the Civil code of law and the Arm Force Special Power Act (AFSPA) was removed from the North Eastern states.

At first, the Village Council assumed it to be a ‘token of love and gift’ from the minister Paiwang Konyak, but later learnt it was an installment of the ex gratia from the state government for the families of those killed and injured.

After the killings which led to widespread outrage, the villagers have demanded removal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The controversial Act gives security forces the authority to arrest or shoot to kill on mere suspicion, and arrest without prior warrants.

AFSPA has been in force in Nagaland and parts of the northeast for several decades. Besides the villagers, Neiphiu Rio, chief minister of Nagaland Neiphiu Rio and an ally of Bharatiya Janata Party, has also demanded the central government repeal AFSPA. “Nagaland and the Naga people have always opposed #AFSPA. It should be repealed,” he tweeted on December 6.

Chief Minister Conrad Sangma from Meghalaya has joined in the demand to withdraw ASPA from the northeast.