Photo Courtesy: nenow
Kohima: A suspected remote-controlled IED blast killed one Assam Rifles soldier and injured four others near the Training Centre and School in Shokhuvi on Monday. The explosion occurred around 2 p.m. as the team traveled toward Dimapur in a pickup truck. A nearby civilian also sustained a leg injury from shrapnel. The force of the detonation mangled a parked autorickshaw, leaving only twisted metal at the scene.
The deceased was identified as Havildar Mohd Iqbal of the 28 Assam Rifles, a native of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir. He joined the force in 2003 and leaves behind his wife, Nasim Akther. The injured remain in stable condition. Security forces, including the NIA, Army, and local police, cordoned off the area to launch combing operations. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack.
This incident follows a July 6 ambush in Manipur’s Ukhrul district that left two 40th Battalion personnel dead. The NSCN-IM condemned the latest attack, distancing itself from the violence. The group issued a statement calling the incident a "cowardly terrorist act" and asserted it remains bound by the Indo-Naga ceasefire agreement.
State leaders and local organizations expressed outrage over the violence. Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio condemned the act, stating, "The bomb blast at Chümoukedima is a cowardly act that has no place in our society." Additional columns of the Assam Rifles and Nagaland Police continue to hunt for the perpetrators. A wreath-laying ceremony for Havildar Iqbal is set for Tuesday at the Shokhuvi training facility.
Comments