A 15-year-old boy is fighting for his life after a horrific blast triggered by a Maoist-planted improvised explosive device (IED) in the dense forests of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district. The incident occurred on Monday morning, just a day after security forces gunned down 14 Maoists in separate encounters in the region.
Swift CRPF Action Saves Life
The victim, identified as Ram Potam, a resident of Korcholi Nadipara village, had ventured into the Gangaloor forest area, approximately 4-5 km from the Korcholi CRPF camp, to gather forest produce. He stepped on a pressure-triggered IED, which immediately exploded. The blast caused devastating injuries, severing one of his legs completely.
Personnel from the 222nd battalion of the CRPF, stationed nearby, heard the explosion and rushed to the scene. They provided critical first aid on the spot, stabilising the teenager and preventing excessive blood loss. "He was stabilised at the camp before being shifted to hospital," a CRPF officer confirmed. The boy was subsequently evacuated to the Bijapur district hospital for further treatment.
Civilian Casualties from Pressure IEDs a Persistent Threat
Police officials stated that the device was a pressure-triggered IED, designed to explode upon contact. These indiscriminate traps are a major cause of casualties among civilians and livestock in the Bastar region. In contrast, Maoists often use manually triggered IEDs for targeted attacks against security forces during operations.
This tragic event highlights the ongoing danger posed by landmines in remote Bastar villages, despite continuous demining efforts. Authorities have warned that explosives are frequently planted along narrow forest paths, riverbanks, and routes commonly used by local villagers.
Intensified Operations and Rising IED Recoveries
The blast comes amid a significant surge in anti-Maoist operations. On Sunday, security forces neutralised 14 Maoists in coordinated actions across Bijapur and Sukma districts. In a related development, a senior Bastar Maoist leader, Barse Deva, surrendered in neighbouring Telangana.
In response to recent intelligence and inputs from surrendered cadres, security forces have intensified search and IED-detection operations in Gangaloor, Korcholi, and surrounding forest areas. The scale of the threat is evident in the numbers: security forces have recovered 875 IEDs in 2025 alone, a sharp increase from the 308 recovered in the entirety of 2024.
Bastar range Inspector General of Police P Sundarraj indicated that this rise in recoveries may reflect weakened Maoist supply chains and reduced access to explosives. Police have appealed to residents to exercise extreme caution while entering forested areas and to immediately report any suspicious objects or activities.
