A pressure IED blast near Dondra on the Konta-Errabora road in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district seriously injured Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akash Rao Giripunje, along with several other security personnel, officials confirmed on Monday.
The blast occurred during a foot patrol operation led by ASP Giripunje to prevent any Naxal activity in view of the CPI (M)’s Bharat Bandh call for June 10. “ASP Akash Rao Giripunje sustained serious injuries. Some other officers and jawans were also injured in the explosion,” said Inspector General (IG) of Police, Bastar Range, P Sundarraj.
All the injured were rushed to Konta Hospital. While most are reportedly out of danger, ASP Giripunje remains in critical condition, and arrangements are underway to shift him to a higher medical centre for advanced treatment.
This attack comes just days after a major anti-Naxal operation in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, which resulted in the deaths of seven Naxalites, including top leaders Gautam alias Sudhakar and Bhaskar, identified as members of the Central and Telangana State Committees respectively.
The operation, conducted between June 5 and 7 by the STF, DRG, and CoBRA units in the dense forest region of the National Park area, also led to the recovery of a large cache of arms, ammunition, and communication devices.
Officials stated that the IED blast in Sukma may be a retaliatory move by Naxal forces in response to the recent setbacks. Security forces continue to remain on high alert in the region.
