Raipur, Oct 11
In a major breakthrough against Maoists, security forces in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district successfully foiled a Maoists plot to target personnel with deadly improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
Acting on precise intelligence inputs, a joint team of the District Police and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) 53rd Battalion recovered and safely defused three Command Cooker IEDs, each weighing approximately 5 kg.
The explosives were strategically planted between Kodliyar Bichpara and Neecheppara villages under Kohkameta police station jurisdiction — a region known for sporadic Maoists activity.
Officials confirmed that the devices were intended to inflict maximum damage on patrolling security forces.
Robinson Guria, Superintendent of Police, Narayanpur, Akshay Sabdra, additional SP, and Ajay Kumar, additional SP, Naxal Operations, have led the anti-LWE campaign in the district.
The operation was launched on early Thursday morning after reliable sources tipped off authorities about possible IED placements in the forested terrain.
The joint de-mining team, comprising district police and ITBP’s ‘B’ Company, conducted a meticulous search operation. Upon locating the devices, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) employed technical charges to neutralize the threat while strictly adhering to safety protocols.
Command Cooker IEDs are a favoured tool among Maoists insurgents due to their concealability and high lethality.
These pressure-based devices are often camouflaged in household items and triggered by movement or remote signals, posing grave risks to security personnel and civilians alike.
The successful defuse marks a significant victory in the on-going efforts to make Narayanpur a Maoist-free district.
Authorities emphasised that proactive intelligence gathering and swift action were key to averting potential casualties.
“This operation reflects our commitment to safeguarding the region and dismantling extremist networks,†said SP Robinson Guria.
Investigations are going on to trace the perpetrators and prevent future sabotage attempts.
Officials noted that increased trust between villagers and law enforcement has led to more actionable inputs, enabling preemptive strikes against insurgent activities.
As part of the broader counter-insurgency strategy, awareness campaigns and civic outreach programs have been ramped up to encourage public participation in maintaining peace and security across Narayanpur.
— IANS
Reader Comments
This is really concerning. 5kg IEDs could have caused massive destruction. Thank God our forces found them in time. The villagers cooperating with police is a positive sign - this is how we can defeat terrorism together.
While I appreciate the security forces' work, I wonder if we're addressing the root causes of why Maoism persists in these areas. Development and employment opportunities might be more effective long-term solutions than just military operations.
Command Cooker IEDs hidden as household items? 😨 This is terrifying! Maoists are getting more sophisticated in their methods. Our forces need better equipment and training to counter these threats. Jai Hind!
Salute to ITBP and district police! The coordination between different forces is commendable. Hope they catch the perpetrators soon. These operations give confidence to common people living in affected areas.
The fact that villagers are now trusting police enough to share information is the real victory here. This shows that hearts and minds approach is working alongside security operations. More development projects needed in these regions.
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