The killing of 13 coal miners in Nagaland's Mon district as security forces opened fire on them mistaking them for insurgents is horrific.

The 3 Corps of the Indian Army issued a statement on Sunday morning that an operation in Tiru area of Mon district had been planned, based on "credible intelligence of likely movement of insurgents." 

This incident once again shows that intelligence inputs can not only be erroneous but lethal as well at times. It also raises a huge question on the "intelligence" network of the security forces. The idea of 13 insurgents assumed to be moving together in a vehicle in a highly militarised zone sounds too absurd and far fetched. There is much to be answered here and although a Court of Inquiry has been constituted. The Indian Army regretting the incident has launched an investigation at the highest level and assured appropriate action as per the course of law but due to the implementation of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in this region nothing concrete is expected to come out of it.

AFSPA gives impunity to the armed forces and they can get away scot free without any accountability. In the Northeast it is currently in force in Nagaland, Manipur, Assam and in Tirap, Changlang, Longding districts of Arunachal Pradesh. Over the years there has been a growing call for repeal of AFSPA from the region but unfortunately there has been little concerted political push for the same from the elected representatives from the region.

The Nagaland firing incident is a huge setback for Army-Civilian relations in the whole Northeast region. It is enough to shatter the delicate bonhomie which has been forged between the two after decades of shaky ground. While it is too early to say if this incident will have any ramifications on the Naga peace process but it is certain that much goodwill and trust built over the years has been lost.

All the 13 deceased were innocent coal miners who were returning home from a hard day's work when they met this horrific fate. Let that sink in!