Nagaland IED blast: Assam Rifles Havildar killed, 4 personnel injured (Lead)

Kohima, July 13 (SocialNews.XYZ) An Assam Rifles Havildar was killed, and four other jawans were injured after a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded in Nagaland's Chumoukedima district on Monday, officials said.

Officials in Kohima said the IED blast struck a vehicle, which was part of a convoy of Assam Rifles vehicles near Sukhovi in Chumoukedima district on Monday afternoon. Slain Havildar Mohd Iqbal was associated with the Assam Rifles training centre and school. The injured Assam Rifles personnel were immediately shifted to a government hospital for treatment. Their condition was not immediately known. The explosion took place near Sukhovi, where the Assam Rifles has a training centre.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton and Director General (DG) of Assam Rifles Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera strongly condemned the attack and vowed stringent action against those responsible. According to officials, the paramilitary personnel were travelling in a convoy through the area when the IED exploded, causing extensive damage to one of the vehicles.

Following the blast, security forces launched a massive search operation in and around the area to track down those responsible for the attack. Additional security personnel were rushed to the site, and the entire area was cordoned off as part of the operation. The exact nature and cause of the explosion are yet to be officially confirmed. Investigators are examining whether the explosive device was planted on the roadside and detonated remotely. More details are awaited.

Strongly condemning the incident, Nagaland Chief Minister Rio said in a post on X that the bomb blast at Chümoukedima is a cowardly act that has no place in their society. He added that his thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected, that those responsible will be identified and brought to justice, and that they will not allow such acts to threaten the peace and security of their people.

Deputy Chief Minister Patton, who also holds the Home and Border Affairs portfolios, took to the social media platform X and wrote that the cowardly bomb blast in Chümoukedima today is a direct attack on the peace and security they cherish, and that his thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this senseless act of violence. He added that those responsible will be identified, brought to justice, and face the full force of the law, and that they will not allow such acts of intimidation to undermine the safety, peace, and stability of the state, stating that justice will prevail.

In a tribute, Assam Rifles in social media posts said that Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, Director General Assam Rifles, and all ranks of Assam Rifles pay solemn tribute to Hav Mohd Iqbal who made the supreme sacrifice in the line of duty in Nagaland today and offer deep condolences to the family of their brave soldier, adding that the DG Assam Rifles and all ranks of Assam Rifles stand firmly with the bereaved family.

The IED blast in Nagaland occurred eight days after two Assam Rifles personnel were killed when suspected Naga armed militants ambushed an Assam Rifles vehicle at Nungshang Kong along the Imphal-Dimapur National Highway (NH-2) in the trouble-torn Ukhrul district of neighbouring Manipur on July 6. The killing of the two Assam Rifles personnel, Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar Chandra Mohan Singh, had triggered widespread condemnation from various quarters. Massive joint operations by the Central and Manipur security forces are still underway to track down those responsible for the deadly ambush.

Meanwhile, the dominant Naga insurgent group, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), denied any involvement in the Manipur ambush, asserting that it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement signed with the Central government and to the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.

In a statement issued after the July 6 attack, the NSCN-IM categorically stated that it was neither involved in nor had any knowledge of the incident. The organisation remains firmly committed to the Ceasefire Agreement with the Government of India and continues to uphold its responsibilities under the agreed ground rules. The NSCN reiterated that it shall never resort to any action that could undermine, derail or sabotage the ongoing Indo-Naga political negotiations, the statement said.

Source: IANS