Nine Indian security personnel, including eight District Reserve Guard jawans and a driver, were killed in a deadly Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.
The incident occurred when their vehicle was struck by a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) while returning from an anti-Maoist operation.
Earlier that day, security forces had engaged in a successful operation in the Abujhmad region, resulting in the elimination of five Maoist rebels, including two women. A cache of weapons, including AK-47s and self-loading rifles, was recovered from the rebels.
The IED blast, suspected to have been executed using the "foxhole" technique, was extremely powerful, leaving a massive crater at the site. This technique involves burying explosives in concealed holes filled with stones, making them difficult to detect during mine-clearing operations.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai strongly condemned the attack, describing it as "heinous" and "tragic." He paid tribute to the fallen security personnel and assured their families of support. The chief minister reiterated the government's commitment to eradicating Naxalism, citing Union Home Minister Amit Shah's goal of eliminating Maoism from the country by March 2026.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar, Sundarraj Pattilingam, confirmed that the officials were returning from the anti-Maoist operation when the IED detonated. He stated that detailed information would be released after a thorough examination of the blast site.
Sources raised concerns about a potential violation of standard operating procedures, as DRG personnel typically travel on foot or by motorbike in such terrain. The use of a four-wheel-drive vehicle in this instance may have increased their vulnerability to IED attacks.
