Says treat Oting massacre with same urgency as Pahalgam terror attack
Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO) while condemning the April 22, 2025 terrorist attack at Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, has demanded accountability for the Oting massacre of December 2021.
ENPO, through its media cell, expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the 25 Hindu tourists and one Muslim pony operator who were brutally killed in the Baisaran Valley terror attack on April 22. The organisation also wished a speedy recovery to the 20 individuals injured in the assault.
“We salute the bravery of Syed Adil Hussain Shah, the pony operator who resisted the attackers and laid down his life. His courage deserves national recognition,” the statement read.
While acknowledging the Central government’s firm and immediate response to the Pahalgam attack, ENPO fervently appealed for the same sense of justice and urgency to be extended to the long-neglected Oting massacre.
It said that the killing of innocent citizens, whether by state or non-state forces, rich or poor, must be equally condemned, and the same standard of justice must be applied. ENPO maintained that the government of India must uphold the constitutional principle of “equality before the law” and that justice must not be selected or delayed.
Commending the government’s strong stand on the Pahalgam tragedy commendable, the ENPO said it also brought into sharp focus the gross inaction and denial of justice in the case of the Oting massacre. Despite the passage of time, it lamented that no action had been taken against the 21 Para SF commandos involved in the brutal killing of 14 poor coal miners who were returning home to celebrate Christmas with their families.
The organisation described any state force killing its own innocent citizens as an act of terror, calling for initiating court martial proceedings against the personnel involved.
According to the organisation, the truth of Oting continued to haunt the conscience of the nation, terming it as a dark blot on India’s democratic values and human rights record that must be addressed with the same seriousness shown in other tragedies.
The ENPO demanded that the victims of both the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Oting massacre be treated with equal dignity and justice, carefully considering the economic background of the victims (whether affluent tourists or poor coal miners) while providing ex-gratia relief, and initiating court martial proceedings against the 21 Para SF commandos responsible for the Oting killings with full public accountability.
The organisation also appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah to personally visit Oting, Chi, and Jakphang villages in Mon district, and pay homage at the mass gravesites, adding that such a gesture would bring immense emotional healing to the affected families.
While the church may teach forgiveness in accordance with the Bible, the organisation said, as Indian citizens, it sought justice as guaranteed by the constitution, stressing that forgiveness must not substitute accountability.
As both the Pahalgam and Oting tragedies point to a lack of robust intelligence and operational planning, the organisation asked the government to introspect and enhance internal security systems to prevent future tragedies.
The organisation acknowledged and appreciated the series of prompt and decisive measures taken by the central government in response to the Pahalgam attack, including granting full operational freedom to the Indian Army for counter-terror operations, suspension of Pakistani visas and deportation of Pakistani nationals, financial assistance to the families of victims, and engaging in international diplomacy to garner global support against terrorism.
It also commended the Union Home Minister’s strong condemnation of the attack and his personal leadership in chairing a high-level security review in Srinagar with all relevant agencies. His visit to the grieving families, offering heartfelt condolences and standing silently in their moment of sorrow, was a deeply moving gesture that reflected a sense of duty and humanity, it added.
ENPO said it was also heartening to witness the opposition parties requesting a special Parliament session to discuss the terror attack, standing united against terrorism, adding this action reflected the true spirit of unity, equality, and fraternity as enshrined in the Preamble of the Constitution of India.
Extending full support to the government’s firm stand against terrorism, the ENPO affirmed that no innocent Indians—whether from Kashmir or Nagaland, whether rich tourist or poor miner—should ever be denied justice. Mourning the loss of lives in Pahalgam, the organisation stressed that the memories of Oting could not be allowed to fade into silence because death was not replaceable by any valuable gems on earth.
The organisation prayed for peace, justice, and healing for all the victims, and for the great nation to stand strong on the foundations of truth, equality, and humanity.