New Delhi/Raipur: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, January 6 expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives of security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. Taking to X, the home minister offered his condolences to the beavered families and assured that the sacrifices made by the soldiers will not go in vain.
“I am deeply saddened by the news of losing DRG personnel in the IED blast in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh). I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave soldiers. It is impossible to express this grief in words, but I assure you that the sacrifices of our soldiers will not go in vain. We will eradicate Naxalism (Maoism) from Bhartiya soil by March 2026,” Shah said.
बीजापुर (छत्तीसगढ़) में IED ब्लास्ट में DRG के जवानों को खोने की सूचना से अत्यंत दु:खी हूँ। वीर जवानों के परिजनों के प्रति गहरी संवेदनाएँ व्यक्त करता हूँ। इस दुःख को शब्दों में व्यक्त कर पाना असंभव है, लेकिन मैं विश्वास दिलाता हूँ कि हमारे जवानों का बलिदान व्यर्थ नहीं जाएगा। हम…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) January 6, 2025
Nine people, including 8 personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) lost their lives following a strong Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion triggered by the Maoists, targeting security personnel vehicle on the Kutru-Bedre road near Amberi village in violence ridden Bijapur district on Monday’s afternoon.
The blast occurred when the personnel were returning from a joint operation of the Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur police. Such was the impact of the blast that it created a huge hole in the concrete road while the remains of the vehicle were scattered for several meters. The incident marks one of the deadliest attacks executed by the Maoists in recent years.
Chhattisgarh | DGP Ashok Juneja, ADGP Vivekanand, IG CRPF Rakesh Agarwal, IG Bastar Sundarraj, and other senior officials visited the spot where a Naxalite IED blast claimed the lives of 8 DRG personnel and their driver yesterday. pic.twitter.com/NLOK9Y7VVO
— ANI (@ANI) January 7, 2025
Heavy deployment of personnel was made in the area for demining exercise. Earlier senior officials of the police including Director General of Police (DGP) Ashok Juneja and Inspector General (IG) Police, Bastar range, Sundarraj P inspected the incident site.
CM, DyCM lifts coffins of fallen heroes
Meanwhile Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai and Deputy CM Vijay Sharma on Tuesday reached Dantewada and paid tribute to the martyred soldiers.
The CM and his deputy lifted the coffins of the martyrs and offered their condolences to the beavered family members.
“The Naxals (Maoists) are resorting to such cowardly act out of desperation, but each of their attempts strengthens our resolve further. On the strength of the indomitable courage of our brave soldiers, we are fully committed to eradicate the Maoist insurgency from Chhattisgarh,” said Deputy CM Vijay Sharma.
बीजापुर जिले के कुटरू क्षेत्र में नक्सलियों द्वारा किए गए आईईडी विस्फोट में डीआरजी के 8 जवान और एक वाहन चालक शहीद हो गए। आज मुख्यमंत्री श्री विष्णुदेव साय जी के साथ दंतेवाड़ा पहुंचकर वीर जवानों को श्रद्धांजलि अर्पित की। शहीद जवानों के परिजनों से मिलकर गहरी शोक संवेदना प्रकट की।… pic.twitter.com/1qEn2feNEH
— Vijay sharma (@vijaysharmacg) January 7, 2025
“This fight is at a decisive juncture, and by March 2026 we will eradicate this darkness of Naxalism and risen a new sun of peace and progress. The indomitable courage and sacrifice of the brave sons will be remembered for ages,” he added.
Earlier CM Vishnu Deo Sai on Monday observed a minute’s silence in an event in Raipur as a mark of tribute to the people killed in the attack
“The whole country knows that it has been more than 1 year since our government came to power. Our soldiers are fighting strongly against Naxalism; the Union Home Minister is also determined to end Naxalism by March 2026. I am confident that his determination will be fulfilled,” said CM.
Significantly, security forces in recent times have amped up counter-insurgency operations, neutralising more than 200 Maoists in separate operations launched in the violence-ridden areas of Chhattisgarh in the last one year alone. This comes amidst establishment of dozen of security camps in the core Maoist zones earlier dominated by the outlawed group.
