Did Security Forces Thwart a Maoist Plot in Chhattisgarh?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Security forces detected a 10-kg IED.
- Operation took place in the Maoist-affected Bastar region.
- IED was neutralised through a controlled explosion.
- No casualties or damage reported.
- Operation highlights the ongoing efforts against Left Wing Extremism.
Bijapur, Nov 20 (NationPress) In a significant blow to Left Wing Extremism, security forces from the Bhairamgarh Police Station, alongside the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDS) from Bijapur district, successfully identified and neutralised a dangerous 10-kilogram Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that had been placed by Maoists on the Chihka-Uspari road within the Maoist-affected Bastar region.
The operation took place in the vicinity of Uspari village, under the jurisdiction of Bhairamgarh Police Station.
A joint unit was engaged in standard area surveillance and search operations when vigilant personnel noticed an electric wire suspiciously protruding from the ground along a rural road commonly used by both villagers and security forces, as confirmed by senior police officials.
Adhering to Standard Operating Procedures, the team promptly secured the area and executed a meticulous search. Within moments, they uncovered a steel tiffin box concealed beneath the soil.
Upon careful inspection, the box was discovered to contain a command-activated IED weighing around 10 kg, filled with explosives and linked to an electric detonator circuit intended for remote triggering, the officials reported.
The Bijapur BDS team was dispatched to the location and, exercising extreme caution, successfully defused and dismantled the lethal device via a controlled explosion right at the site.
No injuries or property damage were reported during the neutralisation process. Police authorities described the recovery as “timely and significant,” asserting that the IED was strategically positioned to target security force convoys or civilian vehicles using the newly-constructed road connecting remote villages.
The destruction of the device has thwarted a potentially catastrophic Maoist ambush, ensuring safe passage for locals reliant on this route for daily transportation, supply of essential goods, and access to markets and healthcare services.
Senior officials from the Bijapur district police commended the diligence of the patrolling team, highlighting that intensified anti-Maoist operations, road infrastructure development, and area surveillance initiatives under the security framework have significantly curtailed the movement and operational capacity of CPI (Maoist) cadres in the area.
As the Bastar region has seen a reduction in Maoist violence over the past year due to ongoing counter-insurgency efforts, such proactive measures exemplify the commitment of the Chhattisgarh Police and central forces to restore complete normalcy and foster development in one of India's most challenging internal security landscapes.