As many as 13 civilians were reportedly killed by security forces in Nagaland’s Mon district, reports said on December 5.

The security personnel, said to be para commandos, reportedly mistook the victims as militants and ambushed them, non-government sources said.

The incident took place on December 4 night when the victims were returning home in a pick-up truck. The security forces reportedly mistook the daily-wage labourers as militants and opened fire.

On December 5, Konyak leaders in Mon district of Nagaland said that six people had lost their lives on Saturday evening and seven others succumbed to their injuries till Sunday morning.

Certain reports said that at least a few of the civilians are missing.

NDTV reported that a jawan was also killed in the incident.

Acting on a tip off, the security forces had planned an ambush on the Tiru-Oting road but mistook the villagers to be insurgents, the NDTV report said.

On December 5, Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio, appealing for calm, tweeted about the “unfortunate incident” that led to “killing of civilians” in the state. The chief minister said that a high-level Special Investigative Team will probe it.

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

Union home minister Amit Shah also expressed condolences and tweeted: “Anguished over an unfortunate incident in Nagaland’s Oting, Mon. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who have lost their lives. A high-level SIT constituted by the State govt will thoroughly probe this incident to ensure justice to the bereaved families.”

Meanwhile, the Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) has decided to withdraw from the annual Hornbill Festival which is ongoing at Kisama near state capital Kohima.

The ENPO, which represents six tribes, had adopted a resolution earlier against bloodshed in its area.

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