Two CRPF jawans injured in IED blast in Bijapur

The injured personnel were rushed to Bijapur district hospital from where they were referred to Raipur for better treatment, said an officer.

Maoists often plant IEDs on dirt tracks to target security personnel and thwart anti-Naxal operations inside forests. Since 2024, a total of 1,013 IEDs have been seized, a majority 732 from Bijapur. Despite this crackdown, 12 jawans have died and 46 suffered injuries in IED blasts triggered by Maoists this year so far. Last year, out of 19 jawans killed by Maoists nine died in IED blasts.

On June 9, Akash Girepunje, an Additional Superintendent of Police from Bijapur’s neighbouring Sukma district, was killed and two officers injured in an IED blast. The explosive was planted next to a vehicle burnt by Maoists in a quarry. Girepunje and his team had gone to the spot for inspection when he accidentally stepped on the IED, triggering the explosion.

In January this year, 8 jawans and a civilian driver were killed when their vehicle blew up in an IED blast in Kutru, Bijapur. In March, a group of jawans had a narrow escape after an IED went off moments after their vehicle passed through the spot in Madded, Bijapur.