Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 8 (HBTV): After eight jawans were killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast by Maoists, security personnel are undertaking a demining exercise to prevent such incidents in the future.

The demining exercise focuses on removing unexploded landmines that may pose a threat to civilians as well.

The forces have deployed personnel in large numbers at the location of the incident. The blast was so powerful that it created a huge hole and cracks in the concrete road. The remains of the vehicle were scattered over several meters.

Eight jawans from the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and one civilian driver were killed in an IED blast triggered by the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Monday, an official said.

According to Bastar Inspector General (IG) Sundarraj P, the jawans were returning from a joint operation of Dantewada, Narayanpur, and Bijapur police when the blast occurred.

Meanwhile, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives of District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur IED blast earlier on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the Central government's commitment to ensuring that the sacrifices of these soldiers will not go in vain and that Naxalism will be eradicated from Indian soil by March 2026.

Shah took to X to extend his condolences to the bereaved families after the tragic incident in which eight personnel of the DRG and their civilian driver lost their lives when Naxalites detonated an IED targeting their vehicle on the Kutru-Bedre road in Bijapur district.

'I am deeply saddened by the news of losing DRG personnel in the IED blast in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh). I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave soldiers. It is impossible to express this grief in words, but I assure you that the sacrifices of our soldiers will not go in vain. We will eradicate Naxalism from Indian soil by March 2026,' Shah said.

The attack occurred as the DRG team was returning from an anti-Naxal operation. The powerful explosion completely destroyed the vehicle, leading to the immediate deaths of all nine occupants. This marks one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in the region in recent times. (ANI)