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14 Naga civilians killed as forces open fire on a tip-off, one soldier killed in ensuing violence

NEW DELHI: Possibly in a case of mistaken identity and later in the ensuing violence,  security forces of the army opened fire on civilians in an ambush, killing 14 and injuring 11 more in Nagaland's Mon district on Saturday late evening. The forces were acting on a tip-off about insurgents belonging to the Yung Aung of the banned outfit National Socialist Council of Nagaland-Khaplang (NSCN-K) faction.

The first firing incident took place near Oting village of Mon when the army personnel mistook civilian coal mine workers returning home in a pick-up van singing songs on Saturday evening, to be NSCN-K insurgents. About 6 of them were killed in the ambush and several others were injured.

As the news of the missing workers who had not reached their homes began to spread, the locals from the nearby villages began to search them and when they learnt about the shootings they surrounded the army vehicles which soon triggered widespread violence in and around the region. 

According to local police officials, as the crowd began burning army vehicles and attacking the security personal one soldier was killed and they had to fire in self-defence during which 7 more civilians were killed.

The news of incidents that were being circulated on social media sparked several incidents of arson and violence which continued on Sunday as mobs began to attack army camps at several places. In one such attack on Assam Rifles camp, the security forces had to open fire during which another person was killed taking the civilian death toll to 14. 

According to local police over a dozen people are injured and the conditions of some of them are said to be serious and some of them may be evacuated to hospitals in the neighbouring state of Assam. Meanwhile, the postmortem of the dead is being conducted in Mon 

Looking at the spiralling incidents of arson and rioting Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio has rushed back and is scheduled to visit the affected district of Mon tomorrow. 

He has also constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by Inspector General of Police Nagaland and four other members and has said that the incident and its aftermath was highly regretted and assured that the incidents would be investigated at the highest level.

Rio also tweeted saying, "The unfortunate incident leading to the killing of civilians at Oting, Mon, is highly condemnable. Condolences to the bereaved families & speedy recovery of those injured. High-level SIT will investigate & justice delivered as per the law of the land. Appeal for peace from all sections."

The Army has also been quick to take stock of the situation and is likely to announce a Court of Inquiry into the incident.

The Yung Aung faction of NSCN-K is based in the boarding Myanmar and since both countries share a porous border they are said to foment armed attacks on Indian security forces. 

Meanwhile, the unfortunate incident has raised speculation that the ongoing Hornbill Festival, the state's biggest tourism extravaganza would be halted as the Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) has urged the six tribes of the region to withdraw participation from the Festival in protest against the incident.

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