Director General of Assam Rifles (DGAR), Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, has termed the July 13 blast in Chümoukedima a “senseless” act, describing the perpetrators as “enemies of Nagaland.”
DGAR, paying his last respect to the slain Assam Rifles soldier, Hav Mohammad Iqbal from Jammu and Kashmir.
He succumbed to IED blast near the Khovanalla bridge, in Chümoukedima, near Dimapur.
The deceased soldier was identified as Havildar Mohammad Iqbal, a resident of Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir.
Iqbal’s remains would be flown to Delhi before being transported by road to his native village in Poonch.
Speaking to journalists at a wreath-laying ceremony, at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School in Shokhuvi, Lt Gen Lakhera urged the public to protect the state's stability.
“I hope and pray to God that better sense prevails, and the hard-earned peace in Nagaland is not lost,” he said.
He said those responsible are acting “against humanity".
Asked about potential motives behind the suspected IED attack on the Assam Rifles, the DGAR declined to comment, stating it was too premature to draw conclusions.
The ceremony was attended by senior military officers, including Lt Gen V M Bhuvana Krishnan, General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command;
Lt Gen Girish Kalia, 3 Corps; Maj Gen Harinder Singh Mavi, IGAR (North); and Brig C S Pathania, Commandant, ARTC&S.
The attack, which occurred around 2:30 pm near the Khovanalla iron bridge, in Chümoukedima, killed one Assam Rifles soldier and injured four others.
According to officials, a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) placed in a stationary autorickshaw detonated as a pickup truck transporting Assam Rifles personnel was proceeding toward National Highway 229.
The conditions of the four injured personnel, who included an Assistant Commandant, were said to be stable. This is of course a matter of concern because July 13 blast is only the second IED blast within a week allegedly by a powerful Naga faction.
On July 6, two soldiers of the 40th Battalion of the Assam Rifles were killed after suspected militants ambushed a convoy in Manipur’s Ukhrul district.
The deceased were identified as Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Rifleman CM Singh, who was reportedly driving one of the convoy vehicles.
Three Naga political groups have condemned the July 13 suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blast near Khopanala at Shokhuvi in Chümoukedima district, which killed an Assam Rifles soldier and injured four others.
In separate statements issued the NSCN (IM), GPRN/NSCN (Unification) and NSCN-K (Khango-Vusshe) denounced the attack, cautioning that such acts of violence could undermine the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process and destabilise the region.
The GPRN/NSCN (Unification), led by Gen. (Retd.) MB Neokpao Konyak and Alezo Venuh, described the blast as a serious incident that threatens the prevailing atmosphere of peace, mutual confidence and constructive political engagement.
Stating that the identity and motive of the perpetrators remain matters for investigation, it suggested that the attack appeared intended to provoke instability and impede the momentum of the ongoing Indo-Naga political dialogue.
It called for a comprehensive, impartial and time-bound investigation.
The NSCN (IM) termed the incident a "cowardly terrorist act", stating that indiscriminate violence serves only to spread fear, create chaos and undermine the peaceful atmosphere.
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