In yet another fateful incident that struck Maoist-hit Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh, as many as two minors were killed following an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion in Bodga village on Monday, May 13.
The incident occurred when both the boys had gone to the forest area to pluck Tendu Patta leaves when they accidentally came in contact with the IED planted by the Maoists, triggering an explosion that cost them their lives. The deceased minors have been identified as Lakshman Oyaam (13) and Boti Oyaam (11).
The incident occurred in the Bodga village north of the Indravati river under the Bhairamgarh police station limits, where two minor boys were killed following an IED blast planted by the Naxals (Maoist). Upon receiving the information, we contacted the villagers, and the bodies of those killed are being brought up, law will follow its course, informed Superintendent of Police (SP), Bijapur.
The tragic incident also draws attention from the political leadership of the state, including the Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and the Deputy CM, Vijay Sharma who, while expressing grief on the tragedy, offered their condolences.
Taking to the X, CM Vishnu Deo Sai, while offering his condolences, said that “sad news has been received about the death of two innocent children after being hit by the IED planted by the Maoist in a field of Bade Bodga village of Bijapur district.
The dark shadow of Maoism is swallowing our children, which cannot be tolerated under any circumstances. This incident cannot be condemned enough, and the Maoist will definitely have to pay the price for the tragic death of the innocents, added CM, Sai.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, Dy CM, Sharma said that the IED was lying in a field in a village across the Indravati river, The children of the village reached there while playing and started playing with the IED when it exploded, causing tragic deaths of both children on the spot.
Five civilians killed in a month
It must be noted that this is, the fourth incident where a civilian was killed following an IED explosion planted by the Maoists in the last one month. Three out of the four incidents of IED explosions, which overall killed as many as five civilians, have taken place in the Bijapur district itself, a stronghold of the outlaws.
Earlier, a civilian was also killed following an IED explosion that occurred near the forest of Mallur village under the Gangloor police station limits of Bijapur district on May 11.
According to the reports, the deceased woman, Shanti Punem, had gone to pluck Tendu Patta leaves in the area where she accidentally stepped upon an IED bomb planted by the Maoists, leading to a strong explosion.
In a similar incidents reported from Bijapur district itself, an 18-year-old boy was also killed following he unknowingly stepped upon an IED planted by the Maoist. The deceased was later identified as Gadiya (18), a resident of Patelpara, Mutvendi, under the Gangloor police station limits.
Earlier in another incident, a villager identified as Munna Bharti, a resident of Dewada village of Bastar district, also succumbed to his injuries following a similar explosion in the Mirtur police station limits. The incident occurred on April 12.
It is noteworthy that the Maoist plant IEDs with the aim of causing harm to the security personnel in the regions infested by them. However, the IEDs planted by the outlaws often led to civilian causalities, killing scores of them.
Most of the civilians killed in such explosions were associated with the work of collecting forest produce, such as Tendu Patta leaves for their livelihood. They were killed after they accidentally got in touch with the IEDs planted by the Maoists.
