A suspected IED blast in Nagaland’s Sukhovi has killed one Assam Rifles personnel and injured four others. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon when a party of personnel was moving from a part of the training centre in nearby Dimapur to another in Sukhovi in Chumoukedima district.
Havaldar Mohd Iqbal from the 28 Assam Rifles was identified as the deceased personnel. The Assam Rifles Training Centre and School is located in the area, which has been peaceful for a long time, according to an Assam Rifles official. The official stated that the party was making a routine movement from one part of the institute to another.
A statement from the PRO Defence Kohima confirmed that the explosion that hit the vehicles is suspected to be an IED blast. The area has been cordoned off, and operations are ongoing to search for the perpetrators and to check for additional IEDs. However, the bad weather is making the operation challenging.
Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio condemned the incident, calling it a cowardly act that has no place in society. He expressed his thoughts and prayers for those affected and assured that those responsible will be identified and brought to justice. The Chief Minister emphasized that such acts will not be allowed to threaten the peace and security of the people.
This incident occurred exactly a week after an ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy by suspected militants in Manipur’s Ukhrul district on July 6, which was the fourth fatal ambush this year in the conflict-hit state.
The Assam Rifles official noted that there are not many operations in the area due to its peaceful nature for a very long time. The institute is divided into three parts, and the party was making a routine movement between them when the incident took place.
