The victim families and villagers of Oting in Nagaland‘s Mon district on Sunday clarified that they would not accept compensation until the Army personnel involved in the killing of 14 civilians are arrested and the AFSPA is repealed.
The Oting Village Council (OVC) on Sunday issued a clarification regarding their stand on the compensation.
The clarification has been issued by Longwang Konyak, chairman, Oting Village Council, Tahwang Angh, Chingwang Dy. Angh, Mongnei GB and Nyanei GB.
The Oting Village Council has issued the clarification in the light of a photo that is being circulated on social media.
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The clarification reads: “It was on December 5, 2021 (Sunday), when we the people of Oting were busy facing and struggling with the crucial period of time with post-mortem, Konyak Union meeting, funeral arrangement, receiving guest, etc.”
“This envelope containing an amount of Rs. 18,30,000 (Eighteen lakhs thirty thousand only) was brought before the Village Council by our Minister and Deputy Commissioner, Mon,” it said.
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The Village Council Oting said they assumed it “as a token of love and gift” from the minister Paiwang Konyak, who represents the Tizit Assembly constituency.
The Village Council Oting said it later came to know the fact that “it was an advance payment or installment of an ex-gratia from the state government for the victim’s family and injured person”.
The “Village Council Oting and victim family will not receive until and unless the culprits of 21st Para Commandos of the Indian Armed Force are brought to justice before the civil code of law and repealed Armed Forces Special Power Act (AFSPA) from the entire Northeastern region of India,” it further clarified.