New Delhi: In one of the deadliest attacks against security forces in recent years in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar, a hotbed of Left Wing Extremism (LWE), eight security personnel and one civilian travelling in a Scorpio car were killed Monday when an improvised explosive device (IED) triggered manually exploded in the jungle area of Kutru in Bijapur district.
According to police sources, the incident occurred at Ambeli village under Kutru police station around 2.15 pm when a joint team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel from Dantewada, Bijapur and Narayanpur were returning after a three-day long counter-insurgency operation in which five Maoists and one DRG constable were killed.
All eight slain DRG personnel belonged to Dantewada district unit of DRG.
The IED, it is learnt, was planted beneath a stretch of blacktop road. As soon as the car reached that section, it exploded, killing eight jawans and the driver on the spot. “It was a very powerful explosion. Based on the size of the crater and condition of the vehicle, we estimate that more than 25 kg of explosives were used,” said a police source.
The source added that since the IED was expertly concealed under the blacktop road, it is evident that the Maoists planned the attack meticulously and placed the explosives well in advance. The Maoists were aware of the route the party would take to return and triggered the explosion precisely when the Scorpio reached the targeted section, said the source.
Adding, “It was a command IED, which means someone triggered it manually. They were keeping an eye on the party returning from the operation since they suffered casualties in the three-day long operation.” The source also said that usually after an operation the personnel return either on foot or bikes, but these 8 jawans were in a Scorpio car.
“We have initiated a search in the area. Experts are also examining the site to ascertain the nature of explosives,” a senior police officer told ThePrint on condition of anonymity.
The attack Monday marked the biggest setback for security forces since 2021 when 22 personnel from the state police and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) died in exchange of fire with Maoists in Bastar region. Overall, security forces have killed as many as six suspected Maoists in as many days of the year so far. Last year, a total of 219 Maoists were killed in Chhattisgarh, including 217 in Bastar region.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
Also Read: Security forces killed 200 ‘Maoists’ in Bastar in 2024. 10 killed in 90-min encounter today