Centre announces Rs.11 lakh ex-gratia and govt job; state govt to give Rs.5 lakh
Led by chief minister Neiphiu Rio, thousands on Monday attended a mass funeral service and paid rich tributes to the innocent civilians killed by security forces at Oting in Mon district on December 4 and 5.
Deputy chief minister Y Patton and his cabinet colleagues, NPF leader T.R. Zeliang, senior government officials and leaders of various civil society organisations also attended the funeral service held at the Mon helipad.
In his speech, Rio said he along with his colleagues were there to mourn together with the people of Mon.
He said the whole State was with the Konyaks and Eastern Nagaland People’s Organisation (ENPO), which has decided to observe December 4 and 5 as “Black Day” every year against the incident.
He acknowledged the challenges of removing the “Disturbed Area” tag from Nagaland and the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1950 or AFSPA, which the State government was fighting.
Admitting that AFSPA had tarnished the image of the country, Rio said “We’re urging the Central government to remove AFSPA from Nagaland. I have spoken to Union Home Minister Amit Shah who has taken the matter very seriously.”
Ex-gratia: Rio also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to the injured persons. He said the Centre had also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 11 lakh and a government job to the family of each victim.
The chief minister, who also met the families of the deceased, assured the people that the components of the joint memorandum submitted by KU, KNSK and KSU that fell under the State’s purview would be looked into and the State government would work towards their fulfilment.
Konyak legislators and representatives from ENPO, Konyak Union, KNSK, ENSF, KSU, Village Council of Oting, Jakphang and Chi delivered speeches condemning the incident and the cruel and on draconian provisions of AFSPA.
The funeral service was chaired by KSU vice-president Yuwang Konyak. The invocation was pronounced by pastor KBCM, Rev Nahngom and the last rites were performed by KBBB executive secretary.