The Nagaland Police on Saturday said that the ops team of 21 Para Special Forces, which had killed 14 civilians in a botched up operation last December, had not followed SoP (Standard operating procedure) and rules of engagement.

At least 14 civilians were killed in December last year after security forces opened fire in three consecutive incidents in the Mon district of Nagaland.

"Probe revealed that the ops team of 21 Para Special Forces hadn't followed SoP & rules of engagement. Their disproportional firing led to the immediate killing of villagers," said Nagaland DGP TJ Longkumer during a press briefing. 

Five cases have been registered in connection with the case and the "investigation is underway," the DGP added.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Nagaland Government to probe the matter has named 30 security personnel including a major in its charge sheet submitted to the Court, reported news agency IANS.

A senior Nagaland Police official said that the SIT submitted its charge sheet to the District and Sessions Court in Mon district on May 30 through the additional public prosecutor and named 30 members of the operation team of 21 Para (Special Force) - the major, two subedars, eight havildars, four nayaks, six lance nayaks and nine paratroopers, the report added.

The killings had triggered protests across Nagaland and the rest of the Northeast with many demanding exemplary punishments to the army personnel. It also triggered outrage and a demand for the complete withdrawal of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) from the Northeast. The AFSPA gives sweeping power to the army during counter-insurgency operations.

The MHA from April 1 had withdrawn the AFSPA from 23 districts in Assam and partially from seven districts in Nagaland and six districts in Manipur.

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