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Indian police charge 30 soldiers over killing of tribal people

International Desk | banglanews24.com
Update: 2022-06-12 21:31:13
Indian police charge 30 soldiers over killing of tribal people [Photo Collected]

Police in India’s restive northeastern state of Nagaland say 30 soldiers have been charged with the killing of six tribal people – who were mistaken for armed rebels – during an anti-insurgency operation last year.

Nagaland police chief TJ Longkumer said on Sunday that the soldiers had resorted to “disproportionate firing” during the operation that killed the six tribal men.

“Investigations revealed that the operation team had not followed the standard operating procedure, and the rules of engagement,” the police chief told reporters in the state capital, Dimapur.

The police investigation was launched after 13 members of Nagaland’s predominant Konyak tribe and a member of the security forces were killed in two separate incidents in December 2021 that started when soldiers mistook a group of local workers for armed rebels entering Indian territory from neighbouring Myanmar.

The bloodshed began when six labourers returning from work in a truck were mistakenly killed by soldiers during an ambush in the state’s Mon district.

Seven other tribal people were then gunned down when local villagers – angered after the discovery of the bullet-riddled bodies of the six men in an army truck – clashed with the soldiers.

A chargesheet has been filed to prosecute the 30 accused members of the military involved in the killings, the police chief said, adding that the “sanction for prosecution is still awaited” from the court.

A spokesperson for the Indian Army was not immediately available for comment. However, a defence ministry official in New Delhi said the case has been placed before India’s courts which will make the final decision on prosecution.

Chemwang Konyak, whose son was one of those killed, said the police bringing charges against the soldiers proved the army “were at fault”, according to local media outlet NDTV.

“But now the big question is will they be punished?” Chemwang Konyak was quoted as saying by NDTV.

Source Al Jazeera

BDST: 2131 HRS, JUNE 12, 2022
MSK

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