In a critical operation on Monday, the CRPF successfully recovered and defused a 20-22 kg IED in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur, just seven hours before Naxals detonated a 60-70 kg explosive in the same district. The later blast killed eight DRG and Bastar Fighters personnel and a civilian driver.
The improvised explosive device, hidden inside a blue plastic drum, was detected by the 196th battalion of the CRPF around 7:30 am during an anti-Maoist patrol near the Usoor police station area. The IED was buried under an unmetalled road and retrieved using a heavy earthmover. The CRPF bomb disposal squad defused the device, averting what could have been another tragedy.
Naxals’ deadliest attack in two years
At 2:15 pm the same day, Naxals triggered a powerful 60-70 kg IED near Ambeli village in the Kutru police station area. The explosion destroyed a Scorpio vehicle carrying eight security personnel and a civilian driver, killing all occupants on the spot.
The route was commonly used by security forces, and police suspect the device was planted long ago. The incident marks the deadliest Naxal attack on security forces in Chhattisgarh in two years.
A coordinated response
Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Sundarraj P, emphasized the need for heightened vigilance and strategic operations in response to the attack.