Bastar: Three villagers injured in IED blast triggered by Maoists in Bijapur

RAIPUR: Three villagers were injured in a pressure IED blast, activated by Maoists in Bandepara village of insurgency-hit Bijapur district in Bastar on Friday morning. Upon receiving information, emergency services quickly dispatched an ambulance to the site to ensure timely medical treatment for the injured.Police and local authorities are coordinating efforts to evacuate the victims and provide necessary care.Police said, in yet another act of cowardice, Maoists targeted innocent civilians with a pressure-activated IED at Bandepara village in Maddeḍ region, leaving three villagers seriously injured.The blast occurred around 8:30–9:00 AM when the victims were walking to Bandepara for personal errands. The pressure IED, allegedly planted by Maoists, detonated as the villagers unknowingly stepped on the device.The injured villagers were identified as Gote Joga (45), Vivek Dhodi (17), and Badde Sunil (20), all residents of Erragufa Para, Dampaaya.All three sustained serious injuries to their legs and faces due to the blast.This latest attack indicates the ongoing threat posed by Maoist insurgents in the Bastar region, where pressure IEDs have been used extensively to disrupt daily life and intimidate local communities.

Innocent villagers, often caught in the crossfire, remain the most vulnerable victims of this violence.Security forces have launched an investigation into the incident and increased patrolling in the region to prevent further attacks and ensure safety of civilians.Bastar region is on an alert mode after suspected Maoists had looted 5000 kg of explosive in neighbouring Odisha on Tuesday. Maoists often use explosives to plant IEDs targeting security personnel and if triggered to blasts, they claim lives or amputee people for life.