Nine Indian security personnel, including eight District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans and a driver, were killed in a deadly Maoist ambush in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district. The tragic 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 conducted a successful operation in the Abujhmad region, eliminating five Maoist rebels, including two women, and recovering a significant cache of weapons, such as AK-47s and self-loading rifles.
The IED blast, believed to have been executed using the “foxhole” technique, was exceptionally powerful, creating a large crater at the site. This method involves burying explosives in concealed holes filled with stones, making detection difficult during mine-clearing operations.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai condemned the attack as “heinous” and “tragic.” He paid tribute to the fallen personnel and assured their families of support. The chief minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eradicating Naxalism, highlighting Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s target of eliminating Maoism from the country by March 2026.
Inspector General of Police, Bastar, Sundarraj Pattilingam, confirmed that the security personnel were returning from the operation when the IED detonated. He stated that further details would be provided following a thorough investigation of the blast site.
Sources have raised concerns about a possible breach of standard operating procedures, as DRG personnel usually travel on foot or by motorbike in such terrain. The use of a four-wheel-drive vehicle in this instance may have made them more vulnerable to IED attacks.
