Bijapur: Two personnel of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast in Chhattisgarh’s Timapur-Murdanda road under the jurisdiction of Awapalli police station of Bijapur, said police on July 9.
The incident took place when the personnel were out on routine patrolling and accidently came in contact with the pressure IED planted by Maoists. The injured personnel were provided with first aid and subsequently referred to the district hospital in Bijapur for treatment.
The blast occurred on the heels of security forces neutralising a sniper of the unlawful Maoist group Sodhi Kanna in an encounter on the borders of Dantewada-Bijapur district on Sunday.
Sodhi, a seasoned Maoist was carrying a bounty of Rs 8 lakh on his head as announced by the state and said to be close to Maoist central committee member Madavi Hidma. The operation also led to seizure of explosive material in significant quantity.
Interacting with the media on the encounter, state deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said “search operations are going on. Union Minister Amit Shah repeatedly appealed to those who carry weapons and become an obstacle to development to come to the mainstream. A uniform-bearing Naxal was killed during an encounter in Bijapur on July 6”.
#WATCH | Surguja | On anti-naxal operation in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh Dy CM Vijay Sharma says, "Search operations are going on. Union Minister Amit Shah repeatedly appealed to those who carry weapons and become an obstacle in development to come to the mainstream… A… pic.twitter.com/w1vIRTcRAu
— ANI (@ANI) July 8, 2025
Earlier on July 5, Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai stressed that the state will soon be free from Naxal violence, and the affected areas will have all the necessary facilities, including roads and electricity.
“Our state is rich in every sense. About 44 per cent of the land is forested. The soil is fertile, and our farmers are hardworking,” said the CM
“Naxalism was a major obstacle to our progress, but we are overcoming it. For those Naxals who have surrendered, we have designed an excellent rehabilitation policy. Soon, Chhattisgarh will be free from Naxal violence, and regions like Bastar will have roads, electricity, drinking water, and all basic amenities,” he added.
JJMP area commander nabbed in Gumla
In a related development, police in Gumla district arrested an area commander of the Jharkhand Jan Mukti Parishad (JJMP, a splinter group of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) said officials on Tuesday.
Praveen Ekka, an area commander of the JJMP was nabbed along with his accomplice Chotu Nayak in an operation launched in forest area of Tanti under the jurisdiction of Chainpur police station limits on Monday.
UAPA accused held in Jamui
In another success for security forces, a Maoist wanted in a Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act case was arrested from Charkapathhar of Jamui, said police in an official statement issued on July 8.
The arrested accused Sudama Yadav was picked up along with his associate Nago Yadav when they were participating in a religious ceremony at their village.
Sudama, a resident of Jamui district is facing charges under the UAPA. The arrest was made by a joint team of police and the Seema Suraksha Bal (SSB), upon receiving reliable intel.
