Five Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), planted by Naxalites with the intent to target security personnel, were recovered on Monday in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, according to police officials.
The explosives were discovered during a routine area domination and demining operation carried out jointly by the Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) and local police. The patrol team was moving along a dirt track near Mankeli village when they spotted signs of suspicious activity, which led to the detection of the explosives.
Three of the IEDs, each weighing around 2 kilograms, were cleverly concealed inside beer bottles, while the remaining two devices, weighing between 3 to 5 kilograms, were hidden in steel tiffin boxes. According to officials, all five devices were buried beneath the earth and aligned in a series formation with a spacing of three to five metres between them.
A command switch mechanism had been fitted to the devices, indicating that they were intended to be detonated remotely. The setup was strategically designed to inflict maximum damage on security forces passing through the area.
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Police stated that the timely detection and recovery of the IEDs prevented what could have been a major tragedy. Naxalite groups are known to use such tactics to ambush security personnel in remote and forested areas, particularly in the Bastar region, which includes seven districts like Bijapur.
They frequently plant IEDs along roads, trails, and forest paths used by security forces during patrols. In many instances, civilians have also become unintended victims of these explosive traps, causing widespread fear in the region.
The latest recovery comes just months after a deadly attack in the same district on January 6, when Naxalites used a powerful IED to blow up a police vehicle, killing eight police personnel and a civilian driver. Authorities remain on high alert in the area as anti-Maoist operations continue.
Also Read: 8 naxalites surrender, 2 arrested in Bastar
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