Guwahati: It appears unlikely that the Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the December 5th killing of 14 civilians by the Indian Army in a botched ambush at Oting in Nagaland’s Mon district, can complete the investigation on time. It was given a month by the Nagaland government to complete the probe. The deadline expires on January 5th.
A senior Nagaland Police official privy to the investigation virtually ruled out the possibility, stating that the police get 90 days to file a charge sheet in court. He cited the gamut of the probe, pointing at the involvement of various stakeholders at different levels. Around 16 or 17 others were co-opted in due course, taking its strength to 21-22. The team includes five IPS officers, the official said. An updated order, issued by Addl DGP (Law and Order) Sandeep M Tamgadge, said that the officers co-opted would work under a team.
The SIT has so far examined 55-60 witnesses and will examine more people. “We have taken the help of cyber, forensic and ballistics experts from all over the country. We are conducting the investigation in a very professional, serious and sincere manner,” the official said. Members of a National Institute of Electronics & Information Technology team aiding the SIT are examining data including videos and photographs related to the tragic incident, sources said.
Meanwhile, an Army team probing the incident is scheduled to visit Oting on Wednesday. However, the Konyak (tribe) civil society organisations made it clear that the person should not come in uniform or with arms. As such, Nagaland Police will escort the team, the sources said. On December 10th, the Konyak organisations had served a 30-day ultimatum demanding that those involved in the killings of civilians be booked and the action taken report brought in public domain.