'IED Planted Through Tunnelling': IG Bastar Shares Details On Maoist Attack In Chhattisgarh That Killed 10 Cops

This was the biggest strike by the Maoists on the security forces in the state in the last two years.

IG Bastar Shares Details On Maoist Attack In Chhattisgarh That Killed 10 Cops

New Delhi: At least ten jawans and a civilian were killed in an IED explosion carried out by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on Wednesday. A District Reserve Guard (DRG) team was returning to their headquarters in a vehicle when an IED planted on the Aranpur road exploded, killing at least ten jawans and the driver.

Following the attack, the Inspector General of Police for Bastar range, Sundarraj P, said: "DRG team had gone there...based on information the police had taken some suspected Naxals into custody...some police team was returning while rest of them were carrying out search operation in the area. As they were returning, the team was targeted by the Maoists, killing 11 ten jawans and the driver."

The IG said that prima facie the ID was planted through tunnelling. He further stated the sample from the attack site had been collected and forensic analysis is underway.  

#WATCH | Chhattisgarh's IG Bastar P Sundarraj gives details about the Dantewada Naxal IED attack in which 10 DRG personnel and one civilian driver lost their lives yesterday pic.twitter.com/BxcveUZ7bi

— ANI (@ANI) April 27, 2023

He said that the blast occurred between 1 pm and 1:30 pm in the Aranpur police station area, when a team of the state police's District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on an anti-Naxal operation.

He stated that further investigation is underway.

This was the biggest strike by the Maoists on the security forces in the state in the last two years.

DRG personnel are mostly recruited from the local tribal population and trained to combat Maoists. Sometimes surrendered Maoists are also recruited in the DRG.

The Multi-Utility Vehicle (MUV) carrying ten DRG jawanswas blown up between Aranpur and Sameli villages, the IGP said.

Expressing grief over the loss of life, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel said the fight against Naxalism was in its last phase, and the Naxals will not be spared under any circumstances.

He will attend the wreath-laying ceremony for the martyred jawans in Dantewada today.