At least 10 security personnel and a civilian were killed in an IED explosion carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada on Wednesday. Naxals attacked a patrolling party on Dantewada’s Aranpur road. A District Reserve Guard (DRG) team was returning to their headquarters in a vehicle when an IED exploded which was planted on the Aranpur road. The blast occurred between 1pm and 1.30pm, according to Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) stated that te blast happened approximately 450kms from the state capital of Raipur.
PM Modi condemmed this Naxal attack and paid tribute to who were killed, “strongly condemn the attack on the Chhattisgarh police in Dantewada. I pay my tributes to the brave personnel we lost in the attack. Their sacrifice will always be remembered. My condolences to the bereaved families.”
Police believe 50kg of explosives were used, the IED was so powerful that after the blast a 12 feet deep and around 25 feet across, spanning the entire width of the village road a crater has been formed. The vehicle was blown to pieces and some of the rifles have got bent due to shockwave. The DRG personnel were on a search operation when the attack happened. This is the biggest Maoist attack since April 3rd, 2021 in Bijapur where 22 jawans were killed and 30 were injured.
This attack happened soon after the central and state governments warned that Maoist activities are waning in Chhattisgarh and the attack happened in Aranpur, 70 km from Dantewada which is situated in one of the main spots of Maoist insurgency, surrounded by places like Minpa, Kirandul, Gangaloor, Bade Bacheli and Palnar where most bloodshed happens.
Most of those who were killed were natives of Dantewada and officers haven’t ruled out the possibility of surrendered Maoists being among the victims, the mortal remains and weapons are still being collected.