Assam Rifles Soldier Killed in Nagaland IED Blast; Army Urges People to Protect State’s Hard-Earned Peace

Havildar Mohammad Iqbal of the 28 Assam Rifles Battalion was accorded full military honours at the Assam Rifles Training Centre and School (ARTC&S) at 3rd Mile, Dimapur. Iqbal, 44, a native of Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir, was killed on Monday when an IED exploded and struck a vehicle that was part of an Assam Rifles convoy.

Director General of Assam Rifles Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera, along with senior Army and Assam Rifles officers, paid their final respects to the soldier during the ceremony in Dimapur.

A defence spokesperson said that the condition of the four injured Assam Rifles personnel remained stable and they were undergoing treatment at a hospital.

Leading the wreath-laying ceremony, Lieutenant General Vikas Lakhera strongly condemned the attack and stated that security forces would take all necessary measures to ensure that those responsible for the incident are identified and brought to justice.

DIRECTOR GENERAL ASSAM RIFLES PAYS TRIBUTE TO BRAVEHEART HAV MOHD IQBAL
Lt Gen Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, DG Assam Rifles, paid solemn tribute to Hav Mohd Iqbal at the Wreath Laying Ceremony held at Dimapur, Nagaland on 14 July 2026.
The ceremony was attended with full military… pic.twitter.com/4UpGLeP0hT

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— The Assam Rifles (@official_dgar) July 14, 2026

Describing the attackers as "enemies of Nagaland", Lakhera urged citizens not to allow the incident to derail the peace achieved by the state over the years. He said, "Peace is the foundation of Nagaland's future and the security of its children," while appealing to people to stand together against attempts aimed at disturbing normalcy.

Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio described the Chumoukedima bomb blast as a "cowardly act" and assured that justice would be delivered. Rio said, "We will not allow such acts to threaten the peace and security of our people."

Deputy Chief Minister Yanthungo Patton called the blast a "direct attack on the peace and security we cherish." In a post on X, he said, "Those responsible will be identified and brought to justice. They will face the full force of the law. We will not allow such acts of intimidation to undermine the safety, peace, and stability of the state. Justice will prevail."

Following the attack, security forces intensified search operations on Tuesday by deploying additional columns of the Assam Rifles and Nagaland Police. No terror group has claimed responsibility for the attack so far.

The dominant Naga insurgent group, the National Socialist Council of Nagalim-Isak-Muivah (NSCN-IM), denied any involvement in the incident, stating that it remains committed to the ceasefire agreement signed with the Central Government and the ongoing Indo-Naga peace process.

The attack has raised concerns over attempts to disturb peace in Nagaland, while security forces continue operations to identify those behind the blast and ensure accountability for the killing of the Assam Rifles personnel.