Staff Reporter
DIMAPUR, JUL 14 (NPN): Director General Assam Rifles (DGAR) Lieut. Gen. Vikas Lakhera on Tuesday appealed to the people of Nagaland to preserve the state’s hard-earned peace, warning that the recent Improvised Explosive Device (IED) attack could undermine the peaceful environment and the future of its younger generation.
Lakhera made the appeal while addressing the media after a wreath-laying ceremony held at the Assam Rifles Training Centre & School (ARTC&S), 3rd Mile, in honour of Havildar Mohd Iqbal of 28 Assam Rifles, who succumbed to injuries sustained in Monday’s IED blast at Chümoukedima ‘A’.
Senior Army and Assam Rifles officers, led by the DGAR, paid floral tributes to the fallen soldier during the ceremony.
According to the Defence PRO, the IED had been planted inside a parked auto-rickshaw near Chümoukedima ‘A’, before Shokhuvi Gate. The explosion occurred as an Assam Rifles vehicle carrying personnel from ARTC&S was proceeding towards Dimapur.
Five Assam Rifles personnel were travelling in the vehicle. All sustained injuries and were shifted to the Christian Institute of Health Sciences and Research (CIHSR), Dimapur. Havildar Iqbal later succumbed to his injuries, while the remaining four personnel, including an Assistant Commandant holding the rank of Captain, are reported to be stable and recovering. Describing the incident as “a very sad matter”, Lakhera said such attacks were against humanity and referred to those behind the blast as “enemies of Nagaland.”
He urged the people not to allow the incident to derail the peace achieved over the years, adding that the Army and Assam Rifles would continue to perform their duties in the interest of the people.
DGAR also appealed to the public to pray for the speedy recovery of the injured personnel and for strength to the bereaved family, saying there was “a lot of power in prayer.”
On the investigation, Lakhera said it was too early to identify those responsible and declined to speculate until the inquiry progressed.
He informed that the body of Havildar Iqbal would be flown from Dimapur to Delhi on Wednesday before being taken to his native village in Jammu and Kashmir for the last rites.
He is survived by his wife, Nasim Akther, and hailed from Kallar Mohra village under Mendhar in Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir.
Among those who paid tribute were General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command, Lieut. Gen. VM Bhavana Krishnan; General Officer Commanding 3 Corps, Lieut. Gen. Girish Kalia; Inspector General Assam Rifles (North), Maj. Gen. Harinder Singh Mavi; Commandant, ARTC&S, Brig. CS Pathania; and other senior Army and Assam Rifles officers.