Security Forces Avert Major Maoist Attack in Chhattisgarh; 10 kg IED Found on New Road Neutralised

Bijapur: In a significant breakthrough against Left Wing Extremism, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Thursday detected and neutralised a powerful 10 kg Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Maoists on the newly-built Chihka–Uspari road in the Bastar region.

The joint operation, carried out by personnel from Bhairamgarh Police Station and the district’s Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDS), took place in the Uspari village area. During a routine area domination and search exercise, vigilant jawans noticed an electric wire protruding from the ground along a route frequently used by villagers and security forces, prompting immediate caution.

Following Standard Operating Procedures, the team secured the area and initiated a detailed search. They soon discovered a steel tiffin box buried beneath the surface, which was found to contain a command-operated IED weighing around 10 kg. The device, packed with explosives and connected to an electric detonator circuit, was designed for remote activation.

The BDS team was quickly deployed and safely destroyed the device through a controlled explosion on-site. No injuries or damage were reported.

Police officials called the recovery “timely and significant,” noting that the IED had been strategically placed to target security convoys or civilian vehicles on the newly developed road connecting remote villages. Neutralising it prevented what could have been a deadly Maoist attack and ensured safe travel for residents relying on the route for daily needs, supplies, markets, and healthcare access.

Senior Bijapur police officers commended the alertness of the patrol team and highlighted that intensified anti-Maoist operations, improved road connectivity, and consistent area domination efforts have significantly restricted the movement of CPI (Maoist) cadres in the region.

With Maoist violence declining across Bastar over the past year due to sustained counter-insurgency measures, such proactive detections reflect the ongoing commitment of Chhattisgarh Police and central forces to restoring normalcy and development in one of India’s most sensitive security zones.

With inputs from IANS