One Assam Rifles jawan was killed and four others injured after a suspected IED blast targeted a convoy near the Assam Rifles Training Centre in Nagaland's Chümoukedima district.
Kohima, July 13: One Assam Rifles personnel was killed and four others sustained injuries after a suspected Improvised Explosive Device (IED) exploded near the Assam Rifles Training Centre at Sukhovi in Nagaland's Chümoukedima district on Monday afternoon, triggering a large-scale security operation in the area.
According to official defence sources, the explosion occurred at around 2 pm along the Shokhuvi–Chümoukedima Road when Assam Rifles vehicles were undertaking a scheduled operational movement. The blast is suspected to have targeted the convoy using an improvised explosive device planted along the route.
Kohima Defence Public Relations Officer (PRO) Colonel Amit Shukla confirmed that one Assam Rifles jawan was killed on the spot, while four others suffered injuries in the explosion. The injured personnel were immediately evacuated to a nearby military medical facility for treatment.
Officials have not disclosed the identities of either the deceased or the injured personnel. Defence authorities noted that withholding names until the immediate next of kin are formally informed is standard military protocol.
Soon after the incident, security forces cordoned off the blast site and launched an extensive search and area domination operation to trace those responsible. Bomb detection and disposal teams were also deployed to inspect the surrounding stretch for possible secondary explosive devices.
No militant organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack so far, and investigations are underway to establish the perpetrators and the nature of the explosive device used.
The Sukhovi blast comes less than a week after another deadly attack on security personnel in the Northeast. On July 6, two Assam Rifles personnel were killed in a coordinated ambush involving IEDs and gunfire targeting a convoy of the 40th Battalion Assam Rifles in Ukhrul district of Manipur.
Defence officials have clarified that the two incidents are separate and cautioned against confusion arising from some early media reports.
The names of Warrant Officer Balwant Singh and Havildar/Rifleman Chandra Mohan Singh, widely circulated in connection with the recent violence, relate to the July 6 attack in Manipur and not to Monday's explosion in Nagaland. As of Monday evening, no names have been officially released for the casualties in the Sukhovi incident.
The latest attack is expected to prompt a review of convoy movement protocols and road sanitisation procedures in parts of Nagaland, particularly around strategic military establishments.
Security agencies continue to investigate whether the attack bears any operational similarities to the recent ambush in neighbouring Manipur. However, officials have not indicated any confirmed link between the two incidents.
The search operation in the Sukhovi area remained in progress at the time of filing this report.
