New Delhi: A case of “mistaken identity” led to the killing of several villagers in Nagaland on Sunday. The incident took place in Oting village in Mon district of Nagaland that borders Myanmar after a counter-insurgency operation went awry, NDTV quoted police sources. A security force jawan was also killed in the incident.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, appealed for calm in his tweet. 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 & 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,” tweeted Chief Minister Rio.
The security forces had planned an ambush on the Tiru-Oting road acting on a tip-off but mistook the villagers to be insurgents, the report added.
As villagers were killed in the firing, the locals turned into an angry mob and surrounded the security forces. The forces had to fire at the mob in ‘self defense’ and several villagers had received fire shots. Some security vehicles were also set on fire, the report added quoting sources.
