The Supreme Court of India has closed criminal proceedings against 30 Army personnel involved in the 2021 incident in Nagaland's Mon district, where 14 civilians were killed in a botched counter-insurgency operation. The decision came after the Centre refused to grant mandatory sanction for prosecution under the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA). The court, however, allowed for potential future prosecution if such sanction is granted and affirmed that the Army can take disciplinary actions internally. The Nagaland government, challenging the Centre's denial of sanction, had insisted on the legitimacy of filing criminal cases against the personnel. The incident, which included misidentifying miners as militants and subsequent violence, has reignited debates over AFSPA's controversial provisions. The Central government's refusal to sanction prosecution underscores ongoing tensions between national security imperatives and civil rights in AFSPA-affected areas.