Photo Courtesy: nenews
Kohima: The National Investigation Agency is now leading the probe into a deadly IED blast in Nagaland. The explosion occurred on July 13, 2026, near the Khovanalla iron bridge in Chümoukedima village. A convoy of Assam Rifles vehicles was moving through the area when the device detonated. The attack killed one Assam Rifles soldier and wounded four others.
Federal authorities stepped in following a July 27 communication from the Ministry of Home Affairs to the state government. The Centre determined the incident constitutes a scheduled offence under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008. Exercising powers under Section 6(5) and Section 8 of the Act, the government cited the gravity of the crime and its national security implications as reasons for the transfer.
The Nagaland Police official statement confirmed the transition. "The Central government taking the opinion that a scheduled offence under the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 has been committed in the instant case, and in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 6(5) read with Section 8 of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008, has directed the NIA to take over the investigation of the aforesaid case, having regard to the gravity of the offence and its national security implications," the release noted.
State authorities and the Nagaland Police will assist the NIA during the handover process. This decision follows an earlier announcement on July 18 by Deputy Chief Minister Y Patton that the state intended to hand the case to federal investigators. A National Security Guard post-blast investigation unit previously scoured the scene on July 15 to assist local police.
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