At least 15 civilians were gunned down by security forces in Nagaland’s Mon district, police said on Sunday, December 5, adding that it is investigating whether the incident was a case of "mistaken identity".

Nagaland is under the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act – AFSPA – which gives considerable immunity to security forces conducting operations against insurgents.

The Army’s 3 Corps on Sunday issued a statement owning up responsibility for the killing of the civilians, adding that one soldier too had died in the operation carried out against insurgents in the area bordering Myanmar. It said a court of inquiry would probe into the matter.

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