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ASP killed, 2 officers injured in Chhattisgarh IED blast

This takes the total number of security personnel killed to 18 this year

Chhattisgarh policeAdditional Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Giripunje.

A senior police officer was killed and two others were injured in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Monday morning.

ASP Akash Rao Giripunje, 42, a Raipur resident, died when the IED exploded at around 9 am in a quarry at Dondra village in Konta area, around 70 kilometres from Sukma district headquarters.

Officials said Maoists planted the pressure IED near a JCB machine on Sunday night and started a fire. On Monday morning, ASP Giripunje and team reached the spot of the fire. However, Giripunje accidentally stepped on the IED, triggering an explosion.

He was rushed to a Konta hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. The other two injured officers, Deputy Superintendent Bhanupratap Chandrakar and Inspector Sonal Gavla, are said to be out of danger.

Giripunje was a state cadre officer who joined the Chhattisgarh Police through direct recruitment in 2013. His first post was as a Deputy Superintendent. In 2024, he was posted in Konta as an Additional SP.

Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai visited the Raipur residence of the officer and later posted on X, “The martyrdom of ASP Akash Rao Girpunje ji will not go in vain. This cowardly attack is an attack on the values of democracy and peace. Our government is determined to completely eradicate Naxalism from Chhattisgarh.”

An ASP-rank officer was last killed in Maoist-linked violence in 2011, when ASP Rajesh Pawar and eight other personnel were killed in an IED blast in Gariaband district. On July 12, 2009, 29 personnel, including then SP of Rajanandgaon Vinod Kumar Choubey, were killed in Maoist attacks in Rajnandgaon district.

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This year, a total of 18 security personnel have been killed in Maoist violence in Chhattisgarh. In the same period, 209 Maoists have been killed in encounters with security forces.

Jayprakash S Naidu is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently serving as the state correspondent for Chhattisgarh. With an extensive career in frontline journalism, he reports on the political, security, and humanitarian landscape of Central India. Expertise and Experience Specialized Conflict Reporting: Jayprakash is a leading voice on the Maoist/Naxalite conflict in the Bastar region. His reporting provides a critical, ground-level view of: Internal Security: Tracking high-stakes encounters, surrender programs for senior Maoist leaders, and the establishment of security camps in formerly inaccessible "heartland" villages. Tribal Rights & Displacement: Investigative reporting on the identity and land struggles of thousands of displaced tribals fleeing conflict zones for neighboring states. Governance & Bureaucratic Analysis: He consistently monitors the evolution of Chhattisgarh as it marks 25 years of statehood, covering: Electoral Politics: Analyzing the shift in power between the BJP and Congress and the impact of regional tribal movements. Public Policy: Reporting on landmark infrastructure projects (e.g., mobile connectivity in remote zones) and judicial interventions, such as High Court rulings on civil and family law. Diverse Investigative Background: Prior to his current focus on Chhattisgarh, Jayprakash held reported from Maharashtra, where he specialized in: Crisis & Disaster Management: Notable for his extensive coverage of the Cyclone Tauktae barge tragedy (P-305) and the COVID-19 pandemic’s impact on frontline personnel. Legal & Human Rights: Investigative pieces for platforms like Article-14, focusing on police accountability and custodial deaths across India. Environmental & Social Justice: Authoritative reporting on the Hasdeo Aranya forest protests and the approval of major tiger reserves, highlighting the tension between industrial mining and environmental preservation. ... Read More

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