The attack in Narayanpur coincided with the detection of another explosive device in Bijapur district
A Bastar Fighters trooper was injured after an improvised explosive device (IED) blast in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district on Monday morning. The explosion occurred between 9.30 am and 10 am in Kohkametta, where a joint security team was conducting an area domination exercise.
The unit, comprising personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), District Reserve Guard (DRG), and Bastar Fighters, was on its way to the Bedmakoti police camp when the IED detonated. Officials said the device was planted barely 1.5 km from Kutul camp towards Bedmakoti.
“The jawan injured in the incident has been moved to Narayanpur district hospital. He is stable,” said an official.
Security Forces Detect Another IED in Bijapur
The attack in Narayanpur coincided with the detection of another explosive device in Bijapur district. A 45 kg IED was found on an unpaved road around 2 km from Cherpal village on the Cherpal-Palnar route, where a new police camp was established earlier this year.
The Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) of the Central Reserve Police Force’s (CRPF) 222nd battalion discovered the explosive while returning from an area domination exercise. The area was cordoned off, and the device was safely detonated.
“It was a command IED. The plan was to target the vehicles of security forces when they set out on anti-Naxal operations,” said an official.
Rising Use of IEDs by Maoists
Maoists have long relied on IEDs as a key weapon in their guerrilla warfare strategy. In the last three months alone, security forces have detected 123 IEDs and defused 13 across the Maoist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh.
On March 23, security personnel in Bijapur had a narrow escape after an IED exploded just moments after their vehicle crossed the spot. The blast left two jawans and a civilian driver with minor injuries due to the shockwaves.
Earlier, on January 6, a command IED attack in Abujhmad claimed the lives of eight security personnel and a civilian driver. The explosion occurred while they were returning from an anti-insurgency operation in which five Maoists had been killed.
As Maoists continue to increase their use of explosives, security forces remain on high alert, intensifying search operations and surveillance to prevent further attacks.