KOHIMA: An Assam Rifles soldier was martyred, and four others were injured on July 13 in an improvised explosive device (IED) by suspected militants targeting a convoy in Nagaland’s Chumoukedima district.
Army sources said,”A suspected IED Blast is reported near Sukhovi on Assam Rifles vehicles. One soldier was martyred and 4 others injured.”
Defence spokesperson Colonel Amit Shukla confirmed the incident, saying the blast happened while the force was on the move as part of an operational exercise. He did not share further details about the exact nature of the blast or the circumstances leading up to the explosion. No militant groups have taken responsibility for the attack so far.
Condemning the attack on the Assam Rifle’s convoy and terming it as a cowardly act Nagaland chief minister Neiphiu Rio said, “The bomb blast at Chümoukedima is a cowardly act that has no place in our society. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone affected.” He further said that that responsible will be identified and brought to justice. “We will not allow such acts to threaten the peace and security of our people”, he added.
The injured soldiers were rushed to hospital for treatment. Meanwhile, security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to track down those responsible for the attack.
Second attack on Assam Rifles
This is the second time in a week that an Assam Rifles convoy has come under attack in the Northeast, raising fresh concerns about security in the region.
On July 6, suspected militants ambushed a convoy of the force’s 40th Battalion in Manipur’s Ukhrul district, killing two personnel and injuring several others . The gun battle that followed lasted for a prolonged period and forced authorities to carry out a large-scale search operation across the area.
The two soldiers who were martyred in that attack were identified as Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Rifleman CM Singh. Rifleman Singh was reportedly at the wheel of one of the convoy vehicles when the ambush took place. Both men were critically injured in the assault and later died despite efforts by medical teams to save them.
Top sources in the security forces informed that these attacks were thoroughly scrutinised by them and larger retaliation is being planned against the preparators in both the states.
