The internet services of Nagaland’s Mon district have been restricted amid tensions in the region a day after at least 10 civilians, who were suspected of being underground cadres, were reportedly killed by security forces in Oting village.
During the ambush, 20 Jawans were also injured.
According to official sources, the district authority of Mon has restricted the internet service throughout the district as a precautionary measure.
While confirming the incident, the Army said in a statement issued on Sunday, “Based on credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents, a specific operation was planned to be conducted in the area of Tiru, Mon District, Nagaland.”
They further said, “The incident and its aftermath is deeply regretted. The cause of the unfortunate loss of lives is being investigated at the highest level and appropriate action will be taken as per the course of law.”
“The security forces have suffered severe injuries in the incident including one soldier who succumbed to the injuries,” they added.
The incident happened in the Longkhao area of Tizit sub-division, Mon district, at around 4 pm on Saturday.
According to local organizations in the area, several people are missing since the “operation”.
They said, a group of daily-wage labourers were returning home from a coal mine in a pick-up truck from Tiru area, when the security forces attacked their vehicle.
The workers were allegedly fired upon by the army personnel, who were reportedly in a mission to search NSCN (K) cadres, led by Yung Aung — a Myanmar based outfit cadres in the area.
During the incident, at least 10 civilians were reportedly killed. However, the local organisations said 14 civilians are missing and the army personnel were seen carrying the dead bodies till late night.
Meanwhile, the Army sources said they are still collecting the information of the operation that was going on against some underground armed cadres present in the area. The injured jawans have been admitted in Dinjan Army Hospital in Dibrugarh district of Assam.
Tension prevailed in the area and various organisations protested the killing of civilians and also attacked some of the security forces and put ablaze the security vehicles.