'Extremely anguished', Amit Shah says in Lok Sabha on Nagaland killings; Opposition minus TMC walks out

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 6

The entire Opposition minus the Trinamool Congress walked out of Lok Sabha on Monday as Home Minister Amit Shah informed the House that the situation in Nagaland was tense but under control, and expressed extreme anguish at the turn of events that left 14 civilians and one soldier dead.

Admitting in the House that it was a case of mistaken identity, the Home Minister recalled that on the night of December 4, the Army had laid an ambush in the area and when they arrived near the ambushed vehicle, the vehicle driver sped away.

“On suspicions that these were insurgents, the Army team fired and six of the eight occupants of the vehicle died. The two who were missing were later admitted to a health facility by the Army,” said Shah.

He said all agencies were expected to ensure that such an incident is not repeated in future while conducting anti-insurgency operations.

“Later, local villagers encircled the Army team and burnt their vehicle. One soldier died and several others were injured, provoking the Army to retaliate. This led to seven more locals dying,” Shah said.

He said an SIT had been formed and asked to report back in a month and an FIR lodged, too.

“The government expresses deep anguish at the deaths and sends condolences to the families of the deceased,” he said, adding that the Additional Secretary Home, who is in-charge of the northeast, is in Kohima today to hold a review meeting with the agencies and the government was monitoring the situation to ensure peace.

Shah was speaking after the Opposition MPs led by Manush Tewari and Gaurav Gogoi demanded a judicial inquiry into the matter and compensation for the kin of the deceased.

In the Rajya Sabha, Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge led the protests.

The TMC also demanded compensation, even though it did not walk out when Shah was speaking in Lok Sabha. Congress, NCP and other Opposition parties walked out.

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