The army has granted access to the special investigation team (SIT) constituted by the Nagaland government to probe the botched counter-insurgency operation and its aftermath that left 14 civilians dead in Mon district early this month.

The development was confirmed on Wednesday, when the court of inquiry constituted by the army to investigate the Mon massacre visited the encounter site at Oting village.

Army and state government officials told The Telegraph that the SIT would question the armed forces personnel involved in the messed-up operation that had sparked widespread outrage and demands for the repeal of the contentious Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, 1958, which gives security personnel in designated troubled areas sweeping powers to search, arrest and shoot.

“Yes, access has been granted. The SIT team will be travelling to Jorhat in neighbouring Assam either tomorrow or the day after for questioning the personnel of the 21 Para (Special Forces) in connection with the case,” an official said.

Another official said the Rangapahar (Nagaland)-based 3 Corps had granted access to probe the 21 Para personnel but when the 19-member SIT would visit Jorhat was yet to be decided.

The area where the operation had taken place is said to be frequented by rebels belonging to the NSCN (K), which is not in ceasefire with the Centre.

The Kohima-based PRO (defence), Lt Col Sumit K. Sharma, said in a statement on Wednesday that the court of inquiry team, headed by a major general-rank officer, inspected the site to understand the circumstances under which the Mon killings could have happened.

The team also interacted with witnesses for “better understanding” of the situation and how events would have unfolded on December 4.

Subsequently, the team visited Tizit police station in Mon to meet a cross-section of the society, including civilians, police personnel and doctors who treated the injured, “for obtaining valuable information” pertaining to the incident.

Earlier, the army had twice requested the public to share information related to the incident in person, via phone, SMS or WhatsApp.

The inquiry is progressing expeditiously and all efforts are being made to conclude it at the earliest, the statement said.

Mon BJP president Nyawang Konyak said the inquiry team recorded his statement and that of the Oting village guard commander.

“We have narrated how innocent civilians were killed in the operation. We have demanded justice for the victims, punishment to those involved and also repeal of the AFSPA,” he told this newspaper.

The Konyak Civil Society Organisations on Wednesday said the Centre should immediately sanction the prosecution of those involved in the killing of the 14 Konyak youths and warned that any move to “distort the truth” would be considered “an act against” the community.

The Konyaks are the largest and one of the most influential Naga tribes.