In Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, a deadly attack by Maoists resulted in the deaths of eight security personnel and a driver after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) destroyed their vehicle. The incident occurred around 2:15 pm at Kutru in the Bastar region as the personnel were returning from a recent operation.

Earlier in the day, security forces clashed with Maoists in the Abujhmad region, killing five insurgents, including two women. During this engagement, weapons like AK-47 rifles and Self-Loading Rifles were seized. The personnel who were attacked were returning from this operation when they became the target of the Maoists.

The eight victims were members of the District Reserve Guard, a specialized unit tasked with countering Maoist insurgency in Chhattisgarh. Footage from the scene showed a large crater, underscoring the severity of the blast.

This assault comes amidst increasing pressure on the Maoists, as security forces make significant progress in reclaiming areas previously under Maoist control.

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnudev Sai condemned the attack, calling it “heinous” and “tragic.” He expressed his condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers and assured that the government is fully committed to ending the Maoist insurgency. “A thorough investigation is underway. We will not allow their sacrifices to be in vain,” he said, reaffirming the state’s dedication to eradicating Naxalism.

The Chief Minister also mentioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s commitment to eliminating Maoism by March 2026, and expressed confidence that the Bastar region, a hub of Maoist activity, would be free from insurgency by then.

Inspector General of Police for Bastar, Sundarraj Pattilingam, clarified that the IED was planted as the jawans were returning to their base camp after the operation. He confirmed that the operation had resulted in the deaths of five Maoists and one security personnel before the attack on the vehicle.