On 4 December 2021 an Army special forces team ambushed a pickup truck carrying coal miners home to Oting village in Nagaland's Mon district, killing six. In clashes that followed that night and the next day, eight more civilians and one soldier died, 14 civilians in all by most counts. The killings set off protests across Nagaland for repeal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA). The state police charged 30 soldiers, but the Centre refused sanction to prosecute, and in September 2024 the Supreme Court closed the case.
Key takeaways
- On 4 December 2021 an Army 21 Para (Special Forces) team fired on a pickup carrying eight Oting villagers, mostly coal mine workers, killing six. The Army called it a case of mistaken identity and said the incident was "deeply regretted".
- Seven more villagers and one soldier died that night when villagers confronted the soldiers, and one more civilian was killed on 5 December when security forces fired on a crowd attacking an Assam Rifles camp in Mon town.
- Amit Shah told Parliament the vehicle had been signalled to stop and tried to flee. A survivor and the Konyak Union said it was never signalled, and the Konyak Union and the ENPO demanded an apology or retraction.
- The Nagaland Assembly unanimously asked the Centre on 20 December 2021 to repeal AFSPA, and marchers walked about 70 km from Dimapur to Kohima on 10 and 11 January 2022.
- The state SIT charge-sheeted 30 soldiers, including a Major, for murder and other offences. The Centre refused sanction to prosecute, and on 17 September 2024 the Supreme Court closed the proceedings, leaving room for revival if sanction is ever granted.
Background: Mon, the Konyaks and AFSPA
Mon district borders Myanmar and is home to the Konyak Nagas. The "disturbed area" notification under AFSPA had been in force across the whole of Nagaland since 1995 EastMojo/PTI. Section 6 of the Act says no prosecution "shall be instituted, except with the previous sanction of the Central Government" against anyone acting under it Morung Express.
The Army's 3 Corps said the operation in the Tiru area was planned on "credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents" Scroll. Police later said a 31-member team led by a Major launched it on 3 December on inputs about NSCN (K-YA) and ULFA cadres EastMojo.
What happened on 4 and 5 December 2021
Ambush at Longkhao
The 21 Para (SF) team, lying in ambush at Longkhao between Upper Tiru and Oting, opened fire on a white Bolero pickup carrying eight Oting villagers, most of them labourers at the Tiru coal mines. Six died on the spot and two were badly wounded Tribune EastMojo.
Villagers find the bodies
According to the Oting Citizens' Office, villagers found the empty truck around 8 pm, chased the security forces' vehicles, and found six of the miners "half-dressed and lying dead" under a tarpaulin Scroll. A Nagaland Police release said the soldiers had loaded the bodies onto another pickup to take them to their base The Quint.
Clash and second firing
Per the state police, villagers turned violent on finding the bodies. One paratrooper died and 14 soldiers were injured, and around 10 pm the Major ordered firing as the team broke contact EastMojo. Most reports put the dead in this firing at seven PTI via Deccan Herald. The DGP was quoted in June 2022 as saying eight died Deccan Herald.
Internet cut, prohibitory orders
Home Commissioner Abhijit Sinha suspended mobile internet, data and bulk SMS across Mon district under the Indian Telegraph Act, saying social media "could be used for spreading of rumors, fake news" EastMojo. The Deputy Commissioner banned gatherings of five or more under Section 144 CrPC PTI.
Assam Rifles camp attacked in Mon town
A crowd demanding action vandalised the Assam Rifles camp and the Konyak Union office in Mon town. Security forces fired, killing one person and injuring two, police sources said PTI via Deccan Herald. Shah later told Parliament a mob of about 250 had burnt buildings of the company operating base Deccan Herald.
How many died: the figures
On 5 December police said 14 civilians had been killed and 11 injured in three firing incidents PTI. Shah's statement gave six in the vehicle, seven in the second firing and one in Mon town, also 14 Deccan Herald. The Assembly resolution counted 13 killed in Oting-Tiru and one in Mon town, with 35 injured EastMojo. Some reports, including the PTI report on the 2024 Supreme Court order, give 13, counting only the Oting dead PTI via DT Next. All 14 were Konyaks Outlook.
The Army's and the Centre's account, and the villagers'
Villagers' and survivors' account
Survivor Sheiwang, 23, said from hospital: "We were not signalled to stop. They killed us directly. We were not trying to flee" Claim · survivor The Quint, citing Indian Express. The Oting Citizens' Office said soldiers tried to present the dead as militants by placing weapons near them and dressing them in camouflage Claim · Oting Citizens' Office Scroll. The Konyak Union said it was neither a case of mistaken identity nor an ambush but murder in broad daylight Morung Express.
Army and Centre's account
Army's position The 3 Corps said: "The incident and its aftermath is deeply regretted," and ordered a court of inquiry Scroll. Eastern Army Commander Lt Gen R P Kalita later called it "a case of mistaken identity and error of judgement" EastMojo/PTI. Army sources told The Wire that soldiers took the two survivors to hospital, that the second firing followed a violent attack in which four rifles were snatched, and that the villagers would not have attacked "had the police reached on time" The Wire. Government's position Shah told Parliament the forces fired in self-defence in the second incident and the Centre "sincerely regrets this unfortunate incident" Deccan Herald.
Amit Shah's statement and the row over it
On 6 December 2021 Home Minister Amit Shah made identical statements in both Houses. He said the Army had inputs on insurgent movement and a 21 Para team laid an ambush Deccan Herald.
During the ambush, a vehicle approached the location and it was signaled to stop. However, the vehicle tried to flee, following which the vehicle, suspected of carrying insurgents, was fired upon resulting in the killing of six out of eight persons travelling in the vehicle. However, it turned out to be a case of mistaken identity.
Amit Shah, Parliament, 6 December 2021
He said a state SIT would finish its probe within a month and that all agencies must ensure "no such unfortunate incident recurs". Congress, DMK, SP, BSP and NCP members walked out of the Lok Sabha Deccan Herald.
The "signalled to stop" line became the main point of dispute. The survivor's account contradicted it, and the Oting Citizens' Office called the statement unwarranted Scroll. The Konyak Union called the statement shameful and said Shah "must stand, clarify and apologise to the Konyak people and the people of Nagaland" Morung Express. The Eastern Nagaland People's Organisation (ENPO) demanded he retract it EastMojo. The later SIT findings, below, also differed from his account.
The protests and the march against AFSPA
At the mass funeral in Mon on 6 December, Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio said the state stood with the Konyaks and the ENPO in observing 4 and 5 December as "Black Day", and said removing AFSPA was "a continuing challenge". He announced Rs 5 lakh per victim's family from the state and said Shah had announced Rs 11 lakh and a government job DIPR Nagaland. At least 11 apex tribal bodies pulled out of the Hornbill Festival PTI, and the state later called it off midway EastMojo.
The Konyak Union's charter of demands sought AFSPA's revocation, withdrawal of 27 Assam Rifles from Mon and an investigation within 30 days Morung Express. The ENPO announced non-cooperation with the security forces and asked that the soldiers be tried in a civil court EastMojo.
On 20 December 2021 the Assembly unanimously passed a five-point resolution asking the Centre to repeal AFSPA from the Northeast "and particularly from Nagaland", with an apology and an assurance of justice EastMojo. BJP MLAs in the NDPP-led government voted for it Scroll.
On 23 December Shah met Rio and other leaders. The Centre set up a committee under Vivek Joshi to review AFSPA in Nagaland, and Rio's statement said the soldiers involved would face disciplinary proceedings and be "placed under suspension with immediate effect" Tribune The Quint. In July 2022 an Army official told The Wire the men were on duty but restricted to base The Wire.
AFSPA had meanwhile been extended across the whole of Nagaland for another six months. On 10 January 2022 over 200 people set off on foot from Dimapur and reached Raj Bhavan in Kohima the next evening, about 70 km away. Their memorandum to the Prime Minister, signed by the Naga Students' Federation, Naga Mothers' Association, Global Naga Forum and Konyak and Eastern Naga bodies, demanded prosecution in a civil court, compensation and repeal of AFSPA "in toto" EastMojo.
The SIT, the court of inquiry and the sanction refusal
The state police filed a suo motu FIR alleging "intention to murder and injure" Scroll. The SIT sought prosecution sanction from the Ministry of Defence's Department of Military Affairs on 24 March 2022 Maktoob, and filed its chargesheet in the Mon district court on 30 May 2022 against 30 men: a Major, two Subedars, eight Havildars, four Naiks, six Lance Naiks and nine Paratroopers, under IPC sections including 302 (murder), 307 and 201 EastMojo.
DGP T John Longkumer said the team fired "without ensuring positive identification", did not follow standard procedures or rules of engagement, and resorted to "indiscriminate and disproportionate firing" EastMojo. Per the chargesheet as reported by The Wire, the commander knew for at least 50 minutes that the ambush was on the wrong route and did not tell his team, and the first firing lasted far longer than the "4/5 seconds" the commander claimed Claim · SIT chargesheet The Wire. A separate FIR, on the Army's complaint, covers the soldier's death and the assault on troops EastMojo.
The Army's court of inquiry was completed by May 2022. Lt Gen Kalita said that if any lapse was found, action would be taken irrespective of rank EastMojo/PTI. Its findings have not been made public; The Wire reported it pointed to non-compliance with certain procedures The Wire. No disciplinary outcome has been reported.
On 13 April 2023 Nagaland Police said the Department of Military Affairs had "conveyed its denial to accord Sanction for Prosecution against all the 30 accused" Maktoob, citing Indian Express. EastMojo dates the decision to February 2023 EastMojo. The reports did not give the ministry's reasons.
The Supreme Court
On 19 July 2022, on petitions by the wives of accused soldiers, the Supreme Court stayed proceedings for lack of the "mandatory previous sanction" under Section 6 of AFSPA Morung Express. On 15 July 2024 a bench led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud issued notice on Nagaland's own petition against the refusal of sanction Tribune.
On 17 September 2024 Justices Vikram Nath and P B Varale allowed the wives' appeals: "The proceedings in the impugned FIRs shall stand closed." The case could resume if the Centre grants sanction, and the Army remained free to take disciplinary action EastMojo PTI via DT Next. The state says it has "clinching evidence" and that the refusal was arbitrary PTI. No ruling on that petition has been reported.
The partial withdrawal of AFSPA
On 31 March 2022 Shah announced that the disturbed area notification would be lifted from 15 police station areas in seven Nagaland districts from 1 April, citing "improved security situation" and the recommendation of the committee set up in December EastMojo/PTI. Tuensang, Shamator and Tseminyu came out entirely and Kohima, Wokha, Mokokchung and Longleng partly. The Naga Mothers' Association's Rosemary Dzüvichü called it a possible "appeasement gesture" Morung Express.
From 1 April 2023 three more police station areas in Wokha and Zunheboto were removed, 18 in all Outlook, but Mon stayed under the Act Scroll. The notification of 23 March 2026 kept nine districts, including Mon, fully "disturbed" and 21 police station areas in five more, from 1 April 2026 for six months Morung Express.
Where things stand in 2026
- Prosecution: None. Sanction refused (reported April 2023); criminal proceedings closed by the Supreme Court on 17 September 2024, open to revival only if sanction is granted.
- Army action: Court of inquiry completed in 2022; findings not public; no disciplinary outcome reported.
- Compensation: Rs 5 lakh (state) and Rs 11 lakh (Centre) per deceased, with government jobs for next of kin. The Oting Village Council said in 2024 that injured victims got only Rs 50,000 each EastMojo.
- Non-cooperation: The ENPO withdrew its non-cooperation on 29 April 2022 EastMojo. The NSF said in December 2022 its non-cooperation stood Tribune/PTI.
- AFSPA: Lifted from 18 police station areas; Mon and eight other districts fully covered under the April 2026 notification. We found no report yet on the renewal due from 1 October 2026.
- Remembrance: Black Day observances each December, in 2023 Morung Express, 2024 Eastern Mirror and 2025, when the Eastern Naga Students' Federation renewed calls for justice and complete repeal EastMojo.
Oting's pastor told the Morung Express in 2024: "We are still waiting for justice" Morung Express.
Questions people ask
What happened at Oting in December 2021?
On 4 December 2021 an Army 21 Para (SF) team ambushed a pickup carrying eight villagers home from the Tiru coal mines, killing six. Seven more villagers and a soldier died in a clash that night, and one more civilian was killed in Mon town on 5 December.
How many people died in the Oting killings?
Police, the Centre and the Nagaland Assembly counted 14 civilians: six in the ambush, seven in the second firing and one in Mon town. One paratrooper also died. Some reports say 13, counting only the Oting dead.
What did Amit Shah say about the Nagaland firing?
On 6 December 2021 he told Parliament the vehicle was signalled to stop and tried to flee, and that it "turned out to be a case of mistaken identity". A survivor said they were never signalled, and Konyak and Eastern Naga bodies demanded an apology or retraction.
Were the soldiers prosecuted?
No. The Nagaland SIT charge-sheeted 30 soldiers, but AFSPA requires central sanction to prosecute and the Centre refused it. The Supreme Court closed the proceedings on 17 September 2024.
Was AFSPA removed from Nagaland after Oting?
Partly. It was lifted from 15 police station areas in April 2022 and three more in April 2023. Under the March 2026 notification, nine districts including Mon remain fully under the Act.
Sources
- Deccan Herald: Government of India expresses deep regret, forces fired in self-defence, says Amit Shah, 6 Dec 2021
- PTI via Deccan Herald: 1 killed, 2 injured in Nagaland's Mon as forces fire on mob attacking Assam Rifles camp, 5 Dec 2021
- EastMojo: Internet services shut in Mon district, 5 Dec 2021
- DIPR Nagaland: Funeral service for civilians killed at Oting and Mon HQ, 6 Dec 2021
- The Quint: 'Weren't asked to stop': Army ambush survivor counters Amit Shah, 8 Dec 2021
- Scroll: Villagers say security personnel tried to pass off killed civilians as militants, 9 Dec 2021
- Morung Express: Justice at all cost: Konyak Union reiterates charter of demands, Dec 2021
- EastMojo: Nagaland Assembly adopts resolution to demand repeal of AFSPA, 20 Dec 2021
- Scroll: Nagaland Assembly passes resolution to repeal AFSPA, 20 Dec 2021
- The Quint: MHA forms panel to examine withdrawal of AFSPA in Nagaland, 26 Dec 2021
- Tribune: Central panel to weigh AFSPA rollback, 27 Dec 2021
- EastMojo: Nagaland's big march demanding AFSPA repeal culminates in Kohima, 11 Jan 2022
- EastMojo/PTI: AFSPA will continue in some areas of Nagaland, Assam, Manipur: MHA, 31 Mar 2022
- Morung Express: Nagaland among NE states where AFSPA extent has been reduced, Apr 2022
- EastMojo/PTI: Army completes Court of Inquiry into killing of Nagaland civilians, 16 May 2022
- EastMojo: Nagaland police chargesheet 30 Indian Army soldiers, 11 Jun 2022
- Tribune: Nagaland Police chargesheet 30 soldiers of 21 Para Special Force, 12 Jun 2022
- Deccan Herald: Army team did not follow rules of engagement, says police, 11 Jun 2022
- The Wire: Army officer 'wilfully suppressed' info that could have prevented Nagaland killings, says SIT, 7 Jul 2022
- Tribune/PTI: Year after botched up army operation claimed 14 lives, 4 Dec 2022
- Outlook: One year since Oting firing, locals observe Black Day, 5 Dec 2022
- Outlook: Centre extends AFSPA in Arunachal, Nagaland, removes it from several areas, 25 Mar 2023
- Scroll: 'Historic' decision by Centre reduces AFSPA's footprint, not by much, 27 Mar 2023
- Maktoob: Union govt denies sanction to prosecute 30 army personnel, 14 Apr 2023
- Morung Express: 'Justice in limbo', editorial, 2023
- Morung Express: On Oting anniversary, Konyak CSOs urge GoI to expedite delivery of justice, Dec 2023
- Tribune: SC notice to Centre over denial of sanction to try Army personnel, Jul 2024
- EastMojo: Oting killings: SC ends criminal proceedings against army personnel, 17 Sep 2024
- PTI via DT Next: SC closes criminal proceedings against 30 Army officials, 17 Sep 2024
- Eastern Mirror: Oting, a massacre remembered, 4 Dec 2024
- Morung Express: Still waiting for justice, Dec 2024
- EastMojo: A tragedy forgotten: how the Oting massacre was erased from memory, 12 Dec 2024
- Morung Express: AFSPA extended in Nagaland: 8 districts and 21 PS declared 'disturbed area', Mar 2025
- EastMojo: Eastern Nagas hold candlelight vigil amid Hornbill celebrations, 5 Dec 2025
- Morung Express: AFSPA extended in Nagaland for another 6 months, 25 Mar 2026