Nagaland intensified Manipur border surveillance after the Chümoukedima IED blast as police expanded investigations with central agencies' assistance
DIMAPUR — Nagaland has intensified security surveillance along its border with Manipur following this week's deadly IED blast in Chümoukedima and renewed violence across the neighbouring state, with the government asserting that it will not allow the situation in Manipur to spill over into Nagaland.
Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Yanthungo Patton said that the state government was closely monitoring vulnerable border areas and had directed the police and security agencies to identify those responsible for Monday's suspected IED attack at Chümoukedima (A) village, which killed an Assam Rifles havildar and critically injured four other personnel.
According to a report in the The Indian Express, Patton described the blast as a shocking incident, highlighting that Nagaland had remained one of the most peaceful states in the region for many years.
He said that Nagaland government had issued clear directions to the police and paramilitary forces to swiftly trace those involved in the attack while expressing condolences over the death of the Assam Rifles personnel and concern for the injured.
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The blast occurred a week after an ambush on an Assam Rifles convoy in neighbouring Manipur's Ukhrul district.
Security forces, including Assam Rifles and Nagaland Police, have since intensified combing operations in and around the Sukhovi area, deploying additional personnel as investigations continue.
On July 15, forensic experts from National Security Guard (NSG), National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Nagaland Police launched a joint investigation at the blast site, while Director General of Police (DGP), Nagaland, Rupin Sharma appealed to the public for crucial leads.
The DGP explained that the NSG had been requisitioned to assist the state police because of its expertise in post-blast forensic investigations. “Our forensic capabilities for post-blast investigations are not as advanced as those of the NSG. Since they are foremost experts in this field, we requisitioned their team to assist us,” he said.
Sharma added that the state government is expected to decide “within the next day or two” whether the case should be formally handed over to any central agency for a comprehensive investigation.