Naxalites blew up with a vehicle carrying security personnel with an improvised explosive device in Bijapur.
A group of Naxalites on Monday blew up a vehicle carrying police personnel with an improvised explosive device in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. At least nine people—including eight jawans and the driver—have been confirmed dead in the incident so far, according to police.
The blast occurred on the Bedre-Kutru Road in Bijapur district. Two Scorpio vehicles carrying at least 20 soldiers were returning from an anti-Naxal operation conducted yesterday when the IED exploded.
Police confirmed that a total of nine people, including eight soldiers and the driver, have been confirmed dead in the IED blast. Shocking visuals from the spot showed dismembered bodies of the Army jawans following the blast.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the attack and asserted that the government will end Naxalism by 2026. Our soldiers are fighting strongly against Naxalism, and the Union Home Minister is also determined to end Naxalism by March 2026. I am confident his determination will be fulfilled,” he told reporters.
Deputy CM Arun Sao condemned the Naxal attack and assured that the sacrifice of the security personnel wouldn’t be in vain. “Whenever big operations are carried out against Naxalites, they do such cowardly acts… Chhattisgarh government will further intensify the steps it is taking against Naxalism. The government will not be afraid or bow down; strict action will continue against them,” Chhattisgarh Assembly Speaker Raman Singh told ANI.
This came after five Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar region. The gunfight broke out on Saturday evening at a forest in south Abujhmaad along the border of Narayanpur and Dantewada districts when a joint team of security personnel was out on an anti-Naxalite operation.
Four Naxalites were found dead initially on Sunday. At the same time, one more body was recovered later, an official told news agency PTI. Dantewada DRG Head Constable Sannu Karam was also killed in action during the operation.
IG Bastar said the anti-Naxal operation took place in the South Abujmarh forest area on the Narayanpur-Dantewada district border of Chhattisgarh. The STF conducted it in coordination with DRG teams from the Narayanpur, Dantewada, Jagdalpur, and Kondagaon districts.
Earlier on Friday, at least three Naxalites were killed in an encounter with security forces in the Kandahar village in Chhattisgarh’s Gariaband district. Weapons were also recovered from the encounter site.
