The Assam Rifles has issued a statement saying that it “deeply regrets the loss of lives of our Naga brothers on the night of 04 Dec 2021 at Tiru, Mon district in Nagaland”. 

The statement form the Assam Rifles comes in the aftermath of the massacre of civilians at Oting village in Nagaland’s Mon district. 

At least 13 civilians lost their lives on Saturday night after security forces opened fire on a pickup car carrying labourers. 

Personnel of the security forces mistook the civilians as insurgents. Security personnel, who were in the area for an anti-insurgency operation. 

Also read: Nagaland: NSCN (IM) terms killing of civilians by Assam rifles as ‘black day’

Later, two more civilians were killed and several others injured in Assam Rifles firing at Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district on Sunday. 

The security personnel opened fire when angry locals attacked an Assam Rifles camp in Mon over the killing of 13 civilians on Saturday evening. 

“The Assam Rifles too is highly concerned with the aftermath of the violence that has taken place post this unfortunate incident,” the Assam Rifles statement read. 

It adds: “The Assam Rifles Post at Mon was severely attacked by a mob of more than 300 locals from different sides. The troops of Assam Rifles at the post however maintained a high degree of restraint and fired in the air to disperse the crowd.”   

Also read: Killing of civilians by Assam Rifles in Mon sparks widespread anger in Nagaland

“The attack on the post has resulted in injuries to some of the personnel of Assam Rifles besides heavy damage to their property in Mon,” the statement further read. 

The Assam Rifles has also appealed for peace in the area. 

“Assam Rifles continues to maintain the highest levels of restraint to prevent further escalation of the situation and it requests all brothers and sisters of Nagaland to show extreme patience till the investigation is fully completed as already promised by Government authorities,” it said. 

“Together, we must not endanger the existing harmony and must stop any mindless destruction to life or property. Assam Rifles is in constant touch with all the civil authorities and will continue to maintain peace and tranquillity in the region,” it added.