RAIPUR, JANUARY 6: Eight jawans of the Dantewada District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian driver were killed in a powerful IED blast triggered by Maoists on the Kutru-Bedre road in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh on Monday. The attack, targeting a vehicle carrying security personnel, underscores the persistent challenges posed by Maoist insurgency in the region.

The bodies of the martyrs will be transported to Dantewada and subsequently sent to their respective hometowns with full honours. This tragic ambush comes as security forces have been conducting intensified anti-Maoist operations in the Bastar region over the past year.

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The incident occurred around 2:15 pm on January 6, near Amboli village, approximately 70 kilometers from Bijapur headquarters. The security personnel, part of a joint operation involving forces from Dantewada, Bijapur, and Narayanpur, were returning from a three-day anti-Maoist operation when their vehicle was ambushed. The explosion completely destroyed the Scorpio vehicle, scattering debris over 30 feet and leaving a deep crater on the road.

Bastar Inspector General (IG) Sundarraj P. confirmed the attack and expressed his condolences. “The operation party was returning after completing its mission when Maoists triggered an IED blast near Amboli village. Unfortunately, we lost nine lives, including eight DRG jawans and the driver. A combing operation is underway in the region to track the perpetrators,” he said.

This attack comes amid ongoing efforts to eliminate Maoist influence in Bastar. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has set a target to end Maoist insurgency by March 2026, expressed profound grief.

He stated, “Deeply anguished by the loss of our brave DRG personnel in the IED blast in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh. It is impossible to put this grief into words. I assure you that their sacrifice will not be in vain. We are determined to eliminate Maoist insurgency from Indian soil by March 2026.”

The location of the attack adds a grim layer of symbolism. Amboli village is historically significant as the starting point of the Salwa Judum movement against Maoists in 2005. The rebels’ choice to target this area underscores their desperation to strike back at security forces who have made significant gains in reclaiming the region.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the attack and paid homage to the martyrs. “Today, we lost eight DRG personnel and a driver in a cowardly IED blast by Maoists. I bow to their supreme sacrifice and extend my heartfelt condolences to their families. Their martyrdom will not be in vain. We are determined to eliminate Maoism from Chhattisgarh and restore peace in the region,” he said.

The blast was so powerful that parts of the vehicle were found stuck in trees nearly 30 feet away. The security forces recovered the martyrs’ bodies and secured their weapons and belongings. National Investigation Agency (NIA) forensic teams are expected to examine the site to gather evidence.

The explosion, part of a nine-vehicle convoy, targeted the eighth vehicle, resulting in total destruction and no survivors. Witnesses recounted the horrifying aftermath, noting how the sheer force of the blast flung one jawan’s body onto a following vehicle, underscoring the devastating impact.

The martyrs of this tragic ambush have been identified as Korasa Budhram, Somdu Ventil, Dumma Madkam, Baman Sodhi, Harish Koram, Pandru Poyam, Sudarshan Vetti, and Subharanath Yadav. The identity of the civilian driver is yet to be established.

Initial investigations indicate that the IED was likely embedded within the road during its construction phase, rendering detection nearly impossible. Officials suspect this strategic planting of explosives allowed Maoists to carry out the ambush without any visible signs of recent interference on the road, highlighting the calculated nature of the attack.

This Maoist attack is a stark reminder of the challenges faced by security forces operating in the dense forests of southern Chhattisgarh. Despite their successes in counter-insurgency operations, such incidents highlight the continued threat posed by Maoist guerrilla tactics.