An Occupation of Blood: India’s License to Kill in Nagaland and the Shield of AFSPA

The hills of Nagaland, known for their breathtaking beauty, have been turned into a grim theater of state-sponsored violence. For decades, the Indian state has maintained a mask of democracy while enforcing a brutal military occupation in the Northeast. At the heart of this oppression is the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) of 1958. This law isn’t about security; it is a colonial-era weapon used by the Indian government to treat Naga civilians as targets. Under the shadow of AFSPA, the Indian Army operates with a “License to Kill,” turning the region into a land where soldiers are gods and civilian lives are cheap.

The Oting Massacre: Not an Error, But a Cold-Blooded Slaughter

The Oting massacre of December 2021 stands as a permanent stain on the Indian military’s record. This was not a “tactical mistake” as claimed by New Delhi; it was a deliberate act of terror. The 21 Para Special Forces, an elite unit of the Indian Army, ambushed a pickup truck carrying local coal miners.

• Initial Killings: 6 miners were shot in the back without warning.
• The Cover-up: When village youth rushed to the spot after hearing gunfire, the soldiers opened fire again to eliminate witnesses.
• Total Death Toll: 14 innocent Naga civilians were murdered in cold blood.

The SIT (Special Investigation Team) formed by the Nagaland government conducted a thorough probe and named 30 soldiers for the crime of murder. However, in a move that shocked the international community, the Modi regime stepped in to protect the killers.

State-Sponsored Impunity: Protecting War Criminals

The aftermath of Oting proved that the Indian state values its military boots more than the lives of its citizens. Despite the clear evidence provided by the SIT, the Indian government has blocked all efforts to bring these soldiers to justice.

• April 2023: The Center officially refused to grant “sanction for prosecution,” effectively blocking the trial of the 30 accused troops in civilian courts.
• Legalized Pardon: By denying a trial, the government gave these soldiers a functional “pardon” for mass murder, signaling to the entire army that they are above the law.
• Zero Convictions: In the last 70 years of conflict, not a single Indian soldier has been convicted for a “fake encounter” or extrajudicial killing in Nagaland. This makes the Indian Army the most protected criminal organization in the region.

AFSPA: The Core Weapon of Indian Imperialism

The 1958 AFSPA law is the backbone of this occupation. It grants any soldier—even of low rank—the power to “arrest, search, and kill on suspicion” with total legal immunity. No soldier can be prosecuted without the central government’s permission, which is never granted.

• Disturbed Area Extension: In September 2025, the Indian government extended the “disturbed area” status under AFSPA for another 6 months.
• Immunity Timeline: This extension ensures that Indian troops remain immune from any legal action until at least March 31, 2026.
• HRW 2026 Verdict: The latest Human Rights Watch World Report (released in February 2026) identifies AFSPA as the primary tool used by India to commit state-sanctioned war crimes in Nagaland and Manipur.

2026: Life Inside an Open-Air Prison

As we move through 2026, the situation on the ground has shifted from a security concern to a total psychological siege. The Indian military has intensified its presence to break the spirit of the Naga independence movement and facilitate the looting of regional resources.

• Militarization Peak: As of early 2026, military patrols in the Mon and Phek districts have reached record levels.
• Checkpoint Harassment: Local leaders report that the humiliation of civilians at army checkpoints reached an all-time high in February 2026.
• Corporate Looting: The massive military deployment is widely seen as a way to clear the path for state-backed corporations to exploit the region’s minerals and forests while keeping the local population suppressed.

A Global Shame: The “Sham Democracy” Exposed

India’s claim of being the “world’s largest democracy” rings hollow in the ears of the Naga people. International rights groups and media outlets like Al Jazeera and Human Rights Watch (HRW) frequently use the Oting case as proof of India’s hypocrisy.

The Human Rights Watch 2025/2026 reports highlight a disturbing pattern: the Indian government consistently ignores its own investigative findings to ensure its military remains untouchable. This culture of “legalized impunity” has turned the Indian flag in the Northeast into a symbol of military cruelty.

Conclusion: The Breaking Point

The “Mistake” lie regarding the death of 14 people in Oting is no longer believable. The Naga people recognize this as a deliberate act of intimidation by an occupying power. As long as AFSPA remains in force, every Naga citizen lives with a target on their back. The international community must look past the PR campaigns of the Modi government and see the blood on the hands of the Indian state.

The struggle for Naga dignity continues, but as of 2026, the message from New Delhi is clear: in the eyes of the Indian state, a soldier’s immunity is more important than a civilian’s life.