Police: 2 ITBP men killed in IED attack by Maoists in Chhattisgarh

Briefing the media, Inspector General of Police for Bastar Range, Sundarraj P said: “The ITBP personnel who died have been identified as Amar Panwar (36) from Satara district of Maharashtra, and K Rajesh (36) from Kadappa in Andhra Pradesh. Both were from 53rd Battalion of ITBP.” The IED weighed 4-5 kgs, police said.

Acting on information about the presence of Maoists from Abujhmad division, the security personnel had left from different camps in Orcha, Mohandi and Irakbhatti on Thursday, and headed towards Dhurbeda, police said. They did not find any Maoists, and were on their way back when the IED blast occurred.

Asked if the team took the same route while returning, a police officer said “they took a different route”. The security forces have stopped taking the same route while returning from an operation following past instances of Maoists ambushing them or planting IEDs.

The two policemen who were injured in the blast are reported to be out of danger.

The incident comes weeks after at least 38 Maoists were gunned down in an encounter with security forces in Abujhmad region on October 4. While 31 bodies were found, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) had confirmed seven more deaths.

About the size of Goa, Abujhmad is considered a Maoist stronghold. Security forces claim to have recovered 50 per cent, or around 4,000 square kilometres, of the area from Maoists in various operations.

As part of the “Maad Bachao Abhiyan”, security personnel have killed 44 Maoists inside Abujhmad and another 70 in nearby areas in about 50 operations since April this year.