CRPF defuses 20 kg IED in Bijapur hours before deadly Naxal blast killed 9

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday defused a 20-22 kg improvised explosive device (IED) in Bijapur district, Chhattisgarh. The IED, concealed in a blue plastic drum and buried under an unmetalled road, was detected by the 196th battalion during a patrol in the Usoor police station area at around 7:30 am. The operation was part of ongoing anti-Maoist activities in the region.

CRPF personnel deployed a heavy earth mover to safely retrieve the explosive device. A bomb disposal squad neutralized the IED, allowing traffic and movement to resume in the area. Officials described the device as a significant threat, emphasizing the importance of its timely detection and disposal.

Later that day, at around 2:15 pm, Naxals triggered a 60-70 kg IED near Ambeli village in the Kutru police station area of Bijapur, killing nine people. The victims included four personnel each from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, along with a civilian driver. The attack targeted a Scorpio vehicle returning to Dantewada after an anti-Naxalite operation.

The blast site, located approximately 50 km from the earlier recovery, was along a route frequently used by security forces. Investigators suspect the larger IED had been planted well in advance to target patrol teams. The explosion destroyed the vehicle completely, leaving no survivors.

Security forces in Bijapur and the Bastar region have intensified anti-Naxal operations, including road sanitization, forward base deployments, and increased patrols. Authorities are focused on countering Naxal strategies and enhancing security measures to prevent such attacks in the future.