Konyak Union of Mon district, carried out a protest demanding apology from Amit Shah and justice for the 14 lost civilians.
According to information, hundreds of people gathered at the Pentom Junction in Tizit and marched to Nagaland check gate shouting slogans like: “Amit Shah liar”, “Para force, go back”, “Repeal AFSPA”, “We want justice”.
What were the demands?
The protestors along with demanding an apology from Amit Shah for his “false” and “fabricated” statement on the incident in Parliament also demanded AFSPA to be repealed.
Honang Konyak, Konyak union’s Vice President, said, “We are asking for justice… we don’t need sympathy. Twisting the truth is unfortunate… Home Minister Amit Shah’s statement in Parliament (is) confusing the world with wrong information. He should immediately withdraw… we demand his apology,”.
Further he added, “We will not rest until justice is delivered to those 14 Konyak youth who were killed,”.
Protesters burn statue of Home Minister
In anger protesters burned the statue of Amit Shah and asked for the withdrawal of his statement from Parliament’s records.
They were also against the central government over the continued imposition of AFSPA, which they fear will be invoked to protect the guilty.
What did Amit Shah say?
In a statement to both Houses of Parliament, Amit Shah said the Army unit happened only to open fire when the truck carrying the villagers accelerated away when ordered to stop.
He also said, the Army unit, suspecting insurgents were in the vehicle, opened fire.
On Saturday, Konyak Union spokesperson T Yanlem said Shah’s statement was “shameful”, and said the incident was not a case of “mistaken identity”. She asserted that the home minister withdrew his statement.
“The 21 Para commandos, an elite force, did a blunder without asserting anything,” said Yanlem. “They killed six young boys…they were innocent villagers returning home.”
The union threatened for justice by 13th December
They threatened that if their demand for repeal of AFSPA and justice in the killing was not paid proper attention by the end of the mourning period on December 13.
They shall take their agitation beyond the district and the state.
Further, they earlier demanded for an independent committee to investigate the failed Army ambush.
And that all those responsible for the incident should be charged and punished in accordance with the law of the land.
CM Neiphiu Rio and his Meghalaya counterpart, Conrad Sangma, too demanded the repeal of AFSPA, or Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act.
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