Konyak community decides to abstain from the Hornbill Festival

The community of Konyak in Nagaland has decided to refrain from any further participation in the Hornbill Festival 2021.

The decision was taken on December 5 after 13 day laborers were reportedly killed by security forces in the Mon district of Nagaland on December 4.

As many as 13 civilians were reportedly killed by security forces in a “mistaken identity” case, according to reports on 5 December.

Security personnel allegedly mistook the victims for activists and ambushed them, non-governmental sources said.

“With respect to the subject cited above (by refraining from further participation in the Hornbill Festival 2021), the community of Konyak is hereby refraining from any further participation in the ongoing Hornbill Festival 2021, citing the atrocities perpetrated by security forces in Oting village in Mon district on December 4, ”a letter from the community leader said to the state government.

The People’s Organization of East Nagaland (ENPO) has decided to withdraw from the annual hornbill festival currently taking place in Kisama, near the state capital, Kohima.

ENPO, which represents six tribes, earlier passed a resolution against bloodshed in its region.

Meanwhile, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, calling for calm, tweeted about the “unfortunate incident” which led to the “killing of civilians” in the state. The chief minister said a high-level special investigative team would investigate.

“The unfortunate incident which led to the murder of civilians in Oting, Mon is highly reprehensible. Condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery to the injured. The high-level SIT will investigate and justice will be done in accordance with the law of the land. Call for peace from all sections, ”he tweeted.

The unfortunate incident which led to the murder of civilians in Oting, Mon is highly reprehensible. Condolences to the bereaved families and speedy recovery of the injured. The high-level SIT will investigate and justice will be delivered according to the law of the land. Call for peace from all sections

– Neiphiu Rio (@Neiphiu_Rio) December 5, 2021

Union Interior Minister Amit Shah also expressed his condolences for the incident.