The Chhattisgarh police on Friday confirmed that the powerful improvised explosive device (IED) that exploded in Dantewada, killing ten police officers and a civilian driver, was planted at least two months earlier by Naxalites, PTI reported. The bomb, on the other hand, went "undetected" during a demining exercise a day before the strike on Wednesday, they claimed. On Wednesday afternoon, Naxalites blew up a multi-utility vehicle (MUV) transporting security personnel in the Aranpur police station area of Dantewada, killing ten members from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian driver.
The incident happened around a km from Aranapur police station, on the route leading to Dantewada district headquarters.
Speaking with PTI, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P stated: “The preliminary investigation suggests that the IED was planted at least two months ago or before it. The grass had grown on the layer of soil under which the wire, which was connected to the explosive, was concealed."
He claims that an explosive weighing 40-50 kg was used and that it was buried 3 to 4 feet beneath the road by building a tunnel from the roadside.
A demining operation to identify explosives was conducted on the same route the day before the assault, but no IED or suspicious object was found, according to the IG, who added that an inquiry is underway to determine how the bomb went undetected.
According to authorities, around 200 security officers from the CRPF and the state police's DRG started an operation from Dantewada district headquarters on Tuesday night after receiving information about the presence of Maoists from the Darbha division in the region.
When questioned if there were any violations of the standard operating procedure (SOP), the IG stated that the soldiers used operational techniques.
“The operation was launched after getting information about presence of Naxalites belonging to Darbha division formation. On Wednesday morning, an exchange of fire took place between security personnel and Naxalites a few kilometres away from Aranpur following which two Naxalites were apprehended. One of them was injured,” he was quoted by PTI in its report.
Following that, a DRG team of eight vehicles set out from Aranpur for Dantewada base, while other teams of security personnel searched the encounter site, he said.
"The apprehended Naxalites were being brought in the first vehicle (of the convoy). There was a long gap between each vehicle to avoid appearing like a convoy. The Naxalites targeted the second vehicle, with 10 policemen onboard," the official said.
Around 200 metres before the attack site, he said, some local tribal youths were stopping passersby to collect money for Beej Pandum, a local festival.
While they do not request money from the police, security personnel will sometimes voluntarily give tribals a small sum for the festival. According to the authority, it is currently unknown whether the car that was targeted stopped there to donate money to tribals.
The IG further stated that he believes any militia member there, along with locals, might have conducted a reconnaissance on police troops and given on information to Naxalites who detonated the explosives.
However, he emphasised that additional investigations into the situation will shed more light on it.
(With Inputs From PTI)