Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 25 (HBTV): Security forces in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district successfully defused eight Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) weighing five kilograms each during a patrolling operation on Wednesday. The IEDs, planted by Maoists, were found on the road between Mutvendi and Pidia under the Gangalur police station limits, according to Bijapur Police.

A dedicated team comprising the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and personnel from Cobra units 205 and 210 conducted the operation. The IEDs were safely destroyed on-site, ensuring the safety of the area.

‘During a recent area domination and demining operation, the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) team from the DRG Bijapur, along with personnel from the 85th and 199th Battalion CRPF and Cobra units, discovered and recovered eight IEDs, each weighing 5 kg. These devices had been planted by Maoists along the route from Mutvendi to Pidia,’ Bijapur Police stated.

The IEDs were designed using a pressure switch mechanism intended to harm security forces. Maoists, suffering significant losses in recent months, have resorted to planting explosives along internal access routes and footpaths. These traps often pose a threat not only to security forces but also to civilians and animals.

Security forces have intensified vigilance and intelligence efforts, foiling Maoist plots and ensuring peace in the region.

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai reiterated the state’s strong stance on eradicating Maoism, describing it as a societal menace. Referring to a recent encounter in Gariaband where 16 Maoists were neutralised, he praised the security forces’ success and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to eliminating the Maoist threat.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also commended the efforts of the security forces, calling it a ‘mighty blow’ to Naxalism. ‘Our security forces achieved a major success towards building a Naxal-free Bharat. With our resolve for a Naxal-free India and the joint efforts of our security forces, Naxalism is breathing its last today,’ he stated.

(ANI)