Chhattisgarh Anti-Naxal Operation Turns Tragic: Ten Police Personnel and Driver Martyred in IED Blast

26-04-2023 : Ten police personnel and a driver were tragically killed in a blast carried out by Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada district on Wednesday, marking the deadliest attack on security forces in the state in the last two years. The incident occurred when a team from the state police’s District Reserve Guard (DRG), a force specifically trained for anti-Naxal operations, was on a mission in the Aranpur police station area around 1 pm, as confirmed by Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range), Sundarraj P.

The Maoists, also known as Naxals, had used an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) to carry out the attack, which resulted in a massive crater on the road, approximately 10 feet deep, and completely destroyed the vehicle. Bodies of the victims, covered with plastic sheets, were seen in the video footage captured by a local news channel.

The DRG personnel and the civilian driver were returning to Dantewada district headquarters after receiving information about the presence of Maoists in the area when the attack occurred between Aranpur and Sameli villages, resulting in the instant death of ten jawans and the driver. Security reinforcements were immediately dispatched to the site, and a search operation has been launched in the region.

Expressing his grief over the incident, Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel stated that the fight against Naxalism was in its final phase, and the perpetrators would not be spared under any circumstances. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also spoke to Baghel after the attack and assured him of all possible assistance from the central government.

“Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans,” Shah tweeted.

Anguished by the cowardly attack on the Chhattisgarh police at Dantewada. Have spoken to Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister and assured all possible assistance to the state government. My condolences to the bereaved family members of the martyred Jawans.

— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 26, 2023

Chhattisgarh has witnessed multiple attacks on security forces in the Bastar region, which comprises seven districts, including Dantewada, during the months of March to June, when Maoists typically carry out their “Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign.” In recent years, several incidents have resulted in the loss of lives of security personnel, including the April 2021 ambush that claimed the lives of 22 personnel, the March 2020 ambush that resulted in 17 casualties, and the April 2019 blast that killed a BJP MLA and four security personnel in Dantewada district. The deadliest attack was the Tadmetla massacre in April 2010, where 76 security personnel lost their lives.

The Maoists have been waging an armed insurgency against the government for over six decades, advocating for the rights of the poorest who they claim have been excluded from the country’s economic development. They have established a stronghold in central and eastern India, known as the “red corridor,” operating from dense forests and conducting their operations against the administration and security forces with secrecy.