Assam Rifles honours Havildar Mohammad Iqbal as DGAR condemns Chümoukedima IED attack, urging peace and unity across Nagaland.
DIMAPUR — Havildar Mohammad Iqbal of the 28 Assam Rifles, who was killed in the line of duty following a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) blast along the Chümoukedima (A) village–Shokhuvi road on July 13, was accorded full military honours at a wreath-laying ceremony held at the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School (ARTC&S), 3rd Mile, Dimapur, on Tuesday.
The ceremony was attended by senior Army and Assam Rifles officers, including Lt. Gen. VM Bhuvana Krishnan, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, General Officer Commanding (GOC), Eastern Command; Lt. Gen. Vikas Lakhera, AVSM, SM, Director General of Assam Rifles (DGAR); Lt. Gen. Girish Kalia, AVSM, VSM, GOC, 3 Corps; Maj. Gen. Harinder Singh Mavi, Inspector General, Assam Rifles (North); and Brig. CS Pathania, VSM, Commandant, ARTC&S.
Speaking to the media after the ceremony, Lt. Gen. Lakhera condemned the attack and described those behind the blast as “enemies of Nagaland.”
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He said that the Army and the Assam Rifles would do whatever was necessary to ensure security but appealed to the people not to allow the incident to disturb the hard-earned peace in Nagaland. He reminded that the state's peace was the foundation of its future and the security of its children.
Providing an update on the injured personnel, the DGAR informed that all four, including an Assistant Commandant of the Assam Rifles, were stable and out of danger.
He also said the mortal remains of Havildar Iqbal would be flown to his native Poonch district in Jammu and Kashmir on July 15 for the last rites.
Asked about those responsible for the blast, Lt. Gen. Lakhera said it was too early to comment as the investigation was still underway.
Havildar Mohammad Iqbal, 44, served with the 28 Assam Rifles and was posted at the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School, Shokhuvi. He is survived by his wife.
The suspected IED exploded at around 2 pm on July 13 as Assam Rifles personnel were travelling in a Mahindra Bolero pickup truck along the Chümoukedima (A) village–Shokhuvi road. Havildar Iqbal, who was driving the vehicle, was killed, while four personnel sustained critical injuries.
An auto-rickshaw caught in the blast was completely destroyed, with parts of its engine scattered across the site. No group had claimed responsibility for the attack till the filing of this report.