National Desk, 17th September: The Supreme Court of India has brought closure to the 2021 Mon district incident, terminating criminal proceedings against Army personnel involved in the tragic event that claimed 13 civilian lives ¹. On December 4, 2021, an Army team mistakenly fired upon a truck carrying coal miners in Nagaland’s Oting village, killing six civilians. The situation rapidly escalated, leading to violent clashes between local villagers and security forces, resulting in seven more civilian deaths and the loss of one soldier’s life.
In its ruling, the Supreme Court effectively closed the First Information Reports (FIRs) filed in the case, while leaving room for potential disciplinary action within the Armed Forces. The court noted that if sanction is granted, the case may proceed further. Additionally, the court has left the door open for the Armed Forces to take appropriate disciplinary measures internally [1).
The Supreme Court stated, “The proceedings in the impugned FIRs shall stand closed. However, if sanction is granted, it may be taken to its logical conclusion. On disciplinary action, we have said the Armed Forces can do the needful.” This decision marks a significant development in the case, which had sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice.