Local officials in India have said that "13 civilians have been killed by mistake by security forces in the state of Nagaland."
According to the American news agency AP, the Chief Minister of Nagaland Nefo Rio has ordered an investigation into the incident. He tweeted that the tragic incident of civilian casualties in Otting was reprehensible.Local officials say locals set fire to military vehicles after more than a dozen people were killed.
An army official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said "soldiers opened fire on a truck after receiving intelligence about the movement of militants, killing six people."
He added that when angry locals set fire to two military vehicles, the soldiers opened fire on them, killing seven more people, and one soldier was killed during a clash with locals.
Nagaland Chief Minister Nefo Revue has ordered an inquiry into the killings. He tweeted that the tragic incident of civilian casualties in Otting was reprehensible.
The incident took place near the Myanmar border. Extremists often enter Myanmar after attacks on Indian government forces.
The dead were miners, said Niamoto Konik, a local spokesman.
On Sunday, Indian Home Minister Amit Shah said he was "saddened" by the news of civilian casualties in a shooting on Saturday night.
Amit Shah said that the state government would conduct a thorough investigation into the incident to provide justice to the bereaved families.
