In yet another tragic incident unfolded in Maoist-affected Chhattisgarh, a civilian was killed following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion that occurred on Saturday, May 11 in the Bijapur district.
The incident took place under the Gangloor police station limits, around 20 kilometers from the pedia forest area where the security forces had gunned down as many as 12 Maoists following an exchange of fire on May 10.
According to the details of the incident, the deceased women Shanti Punem had gone to pluck Tendu Patta leaves in the nearby forest of Mallur village where she accidently stepped upon an IED bomb planted by the Maoists, leading to a strong explosion.
Notably, this is not the only time that a civilian live has been lost in IED explosion planted by the Maoists and such cases have kept coming to the fore from separate areas hit by the insurgency on regular intervals.
Earlier in similar incidents reported from Bijapur district itself, an 18-year-old boy and a youth were also killed in back-to-back explosions in the month of April this year.
The first incident had occurred when a villager identified as Munna Bharti, a resident of Dewada village of Bastar district succumbed to his injuries following a similar explosion in the Mirtur police station limits. The incident occurred on April 12.
Days later an 18-year-old boy identified as Gadiya, a resident of Patelpara of Mutvendi under the Gangloor police station limits of Bijapur was also killed in a similar explosion.
Chhattisgarh: 18-year-old boy killed in IED explosion planted by Maoist
It was then reported that the deceased youth had gone to the nearby forest area to collect forest produce when he unknowingly stepped over an IED triggering an explosion.
Maoists neutralised in encounter
In other news, security forces in Dhamtari have gunned down a male cadre of the outlawed CPI Maoists following an exchange of fire that broke out between the security forces and the Maoists on May 11.
According to the reports, separate teams of police was dispatched towards the inter-district border of Dhamtari and Gariyaband following credible intel of the presence of a group of Maoists in the area.
The operation was launched following information of 15-20 Naxals (Maoists) planning to carry out a significant incident. Two police teams were dispatched towards the spot to carry out the operation. The Maoists initiated the gunfire to which the police also responded, killing one of the Maoists in retaliatory fire, said Sub Divisional Officer Police (SDOP), Naxal in-charge, RK Mishra.
One Naxal killed in encounter in Chattisgarh's Dhamtari
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— ANI Digital (@ani_digital) May 11, 2024
Significantly, security forces have launched a major counter- insurgency drive against the Mao’s men in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh lately. This includes back-to-back operations in the Maad region and bordering areas of Sukma and Bijapur district that has resulted in the neutralisation of as many as 103 Maoists in this year alone.
The most recent among the operation was carried out on May 10, where a joint team of security forces gunned down as many as 12 Maoists following a fierce encounter in pedia forest area that lasted for over 7 hours.
Commending the success of the security forces, Chhattisgarh’s deputy Chief Minister, Vijay Sharma said that a solution to the Maoist issue should be found, development should reach the villages of Bastar, everyone should understand that the barrel of gun cannot produce schools and hospitals.
बीजापुर के पीड़िया के जंगल में डीआरजी बीजापुर की टीम और दंतेवाड़ा की टीम और कोबरा बटालियन ने सब मिल कर मुठभेड़ में 10 के आसपास की संख्या में नक्सलियों को मार गिराया। और कोई भी जवान हताहत भी नहीं हुआ है। जवानों को बहुत बहुत बधाई।
मैं फिर से नक्सलियों से, रास्ता भटके हुए लोगों से… pic.twitter.com/mKFGTHg92E
— Vijay sharma (@vijaysharmacg) May 10, 2024
We are ready for a dialogue with the Maoists even if a small group of theirs are willing to talk and surrender. With good arrangements for rehabilitation, they (Maoists) are requested to return to the mainstream and move forward with the society, there should be peace and development in Bastar, added the deputy CM.
