Madhya Pradesh: Maoists strike ended nine lives, eight jawans of the security forces along with their driver, when the Maoists fired an improvised explosive device (IED). The strike brought back to life the hauntingly persistent Maoist insurgency in Bastar.Attacks on Security PersonnelAround 2:15 pm, an IED planted by Maoists explodes, killing eight jawans, including their driver, near Kutru, Bijapur. The Jawans were returning from operation Abujhmad, where some had earlier killed five Maoists during operations. Now it has indicated a rising menace by Maoists in the district region for security forces.🚨Tragic news from Bijapur, Chhattisgarh9 people including 8 DRG Jawans and one civilian driver lost their lives when the bus they were travelling was blown away by Naxals in a IED blast in Bijapur. The jawans were returning after a joint operation of Dantewada, Narayanpur and… pic.twitter.com/t9DEDeBWwJ— Amitabh Chaudhary (@MithilaWaala) January 6, 2025Earlier OperationSecurity forces had a clash with Maoists at Abujhmad earlier today, killing five rebels, two of whom are women. During the operation, security forces seized weapons such as AK-47s and self-loading rifles. The attack on the security vehicle was an act of direct retaliation over the successful operation against the rebels, which further fueled the tensions of the region.Intense Blast and CasualtiesThe intensity of the IED blast is also reflected in that it dug an enormous crater, leaving evidence behind. In this attack, the District Reserve Guard (DRG), an elite force countering Maoist extremism, lost eight personnel. This violence erupted amidst intensified attempts by security forces to push deeper into Maoist-affected regions.Government Reaction and CondolenceChief Minister of Chhattisgarh Vishnudev Sai described the incident as heinous and tragic and condoled the families of the martyred jawans. Union Home Minister Amit Shah promised complete elimination of Maoism by March 2026, promising a strategic end to the insurgency.Investigation ContinuesInspector General of Police, Bastar, Sundarraj Pattilingam, confirmed the IED attack and assured that there would be a full investigation into it. The authorities are keen on identifying the perpetrators and continue operations to flush Maoist influence out of the region.
