On the evening of 4 December 2021 at around 4:00–5:00 p.m. IST, a unit of 21 Para Special Forces[1] ambushed an open-bed pickup truck—carrying civilians from Oting village (26°50′42″N 94°57′27″E / 26.84500°N 94.95750°E / 26.84500; 94.95750) who were returning from a coal mine at Tiru—and opened fire.

[7][17][19] The Indian Army claimed troops were attacked by machete-wielding villagers and opened fire only under compulsion, as one infantryman was dead and others injured.

[14][15] Nyawang Konyak, president of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s district unit claimed to have been fired at by Indian army soldiers despite his vehicle displaying a party-flag.

[14][21] The following day, the Government of Nagaland imposed Section 144 in Mon District to restrict public assembly and movement; mobile internet and bulk SMS services were indefinitely suspended.

[11] Despite, public protests were organized — hundreds of men entered into a local camp of Assam Rifles in Mon Town during which one more civilian was killed.

[27] Amit Shah, Minister of Home Affairs of India, regretted the killings before the Parliament—which was in session—, and tasked a Special Investigation Team to complete an enquiry within a month; however, he reiterated the narrative of Indian Army in toto.

[28][29] Even members of the state BJP unit and its political allies reject Shah's narrative — party president Temjen Imna Along held the event to be "summary execution as well as genocide.

[16] On 6 December, the Nagaland Police registered a First information report against the 21 Para Special Forces, bringing charges of first degree murder.