IED blast near Assam Rifles vehicle in Nagaland’s Sukhovi kills 1, injures 4

This comes a week after two Assam Rifles personnel were killed in an ambush in Manipur.

A week after two Assam Rifles personnel were killed in an ambush in Manipur, one personnel has been killed and four others injured in a suspected IED blast in Nagaland’s Sukhovi.

The deceased personnel has been identified as Havaldar Mohd Iqbal from the 28 Assam Rifles. The Assam Rifles Training Centre and School is located in the area.

According to an Assam Rifles official, the party of personnel was moving from a part of the training centre in nearby Dimapur to another in Sukhovi in Chumoukedima district when the incident took place on Monday afternoon.

“There are not many operations in that area because it has been peaceful for a very long time. The institute is basically in three parts, so the party was making a routine movement from one part to another,” the official said.

A statement from the PRO Defence Kohima stated 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 also to see if there are any additional IEDs. The weather is bad, which is making this a little more challenging,” said the official.

Condemning the incident Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated: “The bomb blast at Chumoukedima is a cowardly act that has no place in our society. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Those responsible will be identified and brought to justice. We will not allow such acts to threaten the peace and security of our people”.

Monday’s blast took place 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.

Sukrita Baruah is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Guwahati. From this strategic hub, she provides comprehensive, ground-level coverage of India's North East, a region characterized by its complex ethnic diversity, geopolitical significance, and unique developmental challenges. Expertise and Experience Ethnic & Social Dynamics: Deep-dive coverage of regional conflicts (such as the crisis in Manipur) and peace-building efforts. Border & Geopolitics: Tracking developments along India’s international borders and their impact on local communities. Governance & Policy: Reporting on state elections, tribal council decisions, and the implementation of central schemes in the North East. Specialized Education Background: Prior to her current role, Sukrita was a dedicated Education Correspondent for The Indian Express in Delhi. This experience provided her with a sharp analytical lens for: Policy Analysis: Evaluating the National Education Policy (NEP) and university-level reforms. Student Affairs: Covering high-stakes stories regarding campus politics, national entrance exams, and the challenges within the primary and secondary education sectors. ... Read More

A week after two Assam Rifles personnel were killed in an ambush in Manipur, one personnel has been killed and four others injured in a suspected IED blast in Nagaland’s Sukhovi.

The deceased personnel has been identified as Havaldar Mohd Iqbal from the 28 Assam Rifles. The Assam Rifles Training Centre and School is located in the area.

According to an Assam Rifles official, the party of personnel was moving from a part of the training centre in nearby Dimapur to another in Sukhovi in Chumoukedima district when the incident took place on Monday afternoon.

“There are not many operations in that area because it has been peaceful for a very long time. The institute is basically in three parts, so the party was making a routine movement from one part to another,” the official said.

A statement from the PRO Defence Kohima stated 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 also to see if there are any additional IEDs. The weather is bad, which is making this a little more challenging,” said the official.

Condemning the incident Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio stated: “The bomb blast at Chumoukedima is a cowardly act that has no place in our society. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected. Those responsible will be identified and brought to justice. We will not allow such acts to threaten the peace and security of our people”.

Monday’s blast took place 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.