1995 Kohima Massacre

Deaths 7
Location Kohima, Nagaland
Injured 36
Date March 5, 1995 1:30–3:30 p.m. (IST)
Criminal penalty Unknown

Introduction

The 1995 Kohima Massacre, took place on March 5, 1995, when forces of the 16th Rashtriya Rifles of the Indian Army fired upon civilian populace while the convoy was traversing through Kohima, the capital city of Nagaland.

The incident was sparked off by a tyre burst from one of the convoy's own vehicle leading the armed troops to fire at civilians after mistaking the sound of the tyre bursting for a bomb attack.


Incident

On March 5, 1995, a convoy of 16th Rastriya Rifles (RR) was traversing through Kohima on their way from Bishnupur, Manipur to Dimapur, Nagaland.

The heavily armed fleet which stretched over 5 km had sixty-three vehicles with five officers, 15 JCOs and 400 Jawans. As the convoy was crossing the AOC and BOC area which is a thickly populated part of Kohima, one of the convoy's truck tyre burst which led the army personnels to react immediately. Unaware of the tyre burst was one of their own, the armed troops started firing within the civilian populace. The firing included 1,207 rounds of gunfire and five rounds of mortar fire. The firing continued from 1:30 p.m. until after 3:30 p.m. A total of 7 were killed and 36 were left injured.

The RR personnel also deliberately attacked property, damaging buildings and houses. They then prevented the injured from being treated.

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