The deadly explosion caused by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) in Nagaland has killed an Assam Rifles personnel and injured four others.
What happened in Chümoukedima on Monday afternoon is shocking and deserves unequivocal condemnation. The deadly explosion caused by a suspected improvised explosive device (IED) not only claimed the life of an Assam Rifles personnel and injured four others, but also threatened to undermine the hard-earned peace and stability that Nagaland has painstakingly built over the years. It has sparked statewide outrage, with political leaders and civil society organisations condemning the "cowardly" attack. The tragic incident took place at a time when the overall security situation in the state has improved significantly, as reflected in official data from the Ministry of Home Affairs. According to the ministry, insurgency-related violence in Nagaland has declined by nearly 86 per cent over the past two decades. No insurgency-related killings involving extremists, security personnel or civilians were reported in 2025, underscoring the progress made in restoring peace. This transformation is the result of sustained efforts by civil society organisations, church bodies, community leaders and the public, who have worked tirelessly to foster reconciliation and stability. The signing of the ceasefire agreement between the Government of India and the NSCN (IM) in 1997, followed by similar agreements with several other Naga insurgent groups in the subsequent years, created space for political dialogue and laid the foundation for peace in the region. Public outrage is natural when this hard-earned, fragile peace is threatened by miscreants, particularly when the peace process aimed at finding a permanent solution to the Naga political issue is still underway.
So far, no individual or group has claimed responsibility for the attack. That inevitably raises troubling questions. Why would anyone carry out such an attack at a time when peace has largely prevailed? Who could be the perpetrators? Who stands to benefit from destabilising the state? While investigations are underway and answers remain elusive, speculation is bound to arise. Given Nagaland's history of insurgency and armed conflict, suspicion may naturally fall on Naga political groups. However, such conclusions would be premature. Almost all Naga political groups are currently under ceasefire agreements with the Government of India. The ceasefire ground rules explicitly prohibit offensive operations, including ambushes and raids, by both Indian security forces and cadres of NSCN factions. They also require cadres to remain in designated camps and prohibit the public carrying of arms. Compliance with these rules is overseen by the Ceasefire Supervisory Board (CFSB) and the Ceasefire Monitoring Cell (CFMC). The truce has proved effective for decades, with all groups respecting it, as reflected in the dramatic decline in armed confrontations. It would make little sense for any party to jeopardise the existing ceasefire by carrying out an attack of this nature. At the same time, the law enforcement agencies should leave no stone unturned to identify and bring the perpetrators to justice. The involvement of miscreants or individuals intent on creating unrest and disturbing the state's hard-earned peace cannot be ruled out. What is important is serving justice to the victims and ensuring peace and security in the state. Nagaland has endured enough bloodshed; enough is enough.