Dantewada blast: Naxalites planted IED nearly two months ago, says Bastar IG

The IG suspects that a militia member might have been present there along with the local people to keep an eye on the police personnel and tip off the Naxalites who carried out the blasts.

Dantewada(Chhattisgarh):In a major revelation it was found that the IED used for blowing up the army vehicle at Dantewada on Wednesday IED was planted at least two months ago or earlier, and the wire connecting the explosive was hidden beneath grass that had grown over the soil layer.

Speaking to the media, Bastar IG Sundarraj P said, “Preliminary investigation shows that the IED was planted at least two months ago or earlier, and the wire connecting the explosive was hidden beneath grass that had grown over the soil layer”.

“Around 40-50 kg of explosives were used, and it seems that the tunnel was dug from the side of the road and placed 3 to 4 feet below the road. A drill to detect explosives was carried out on the same road a day before the attack, but no IEDs were found, and no suspicious objects were recovered,” he added fuelling the doubt the ultras have been successful in covering up explosives in such a way that it remains undetectable.

On Wednesday, Naxalites detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) on a vehicle carrying security personnel in the Aranpur police station area of Dantewada, killing ten personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and a civilian driver. The incident took place on the road leading to Dantewada district headquarters, approximately one kilometer from Aranpur police station.

Around 200 security personnel of CRPF and DRG of state police had launched an operation after receiving a tip-off from the Dantewada district headquarters about the presence of Maoists of Darbha division in the area on Tuesday night. On Wednesday morning, a few kilometers away from Aranpur, there was an encounter between security personnel and Naxalites, after which two Naxalites were captured, one of whom was injured. After this, a team of DRG left Aranpur in eight vehicles for the Dantewada base, while other teams of security personnel were searching the encounter site. The captured Naxalites were being brought in the first vehicle of the convoy.

While passing through the area, some local tribal youths were stopping passers-by to collect money for the local festival Bij Pandum, which is a common practice. Security personnel sometimes voluntarily give a small amount to the tribal for the festival. It is not yet clear whether the targeted vehicle had stopped there to pay the tribal or not. Bij Pandum is a festival celebrated by tribals in Chhattisgarh before the sowing season with the onset of monsoon.

The IG suspects that a militia member might have been present there along with the local people to keep an eye on the police personnel and tip off the Naxalites who carried out the blasts. However, further investigation of the matter will be more clear. On the day of the attack, a village market was also held in Aranpur, and the presence of militia members of Naxalites cannot be denied.

When asked about the involvement of any senior Naxalite leader in the attack, the IG said that the Darbha Division Committee of Naxalites claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement, and its commander Jagdish was active in Naxalite activities in the area. The Malangir Area Committee of Maoists working under the Darbha division may be behind the attack, but the investigation is ongoing. The IG stated that the personnel followed operational tactics, and there was no violation of the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).

While on Friday, the two arrested Maoists were presented in the court. The court has sent both the Maoists on judicial remand for three days.

Meanwhile, a mobile tower in Dantewada, Chhattisgarh, was set on fire by Naxalites on Friday near Barsur in Harra Kordar in the Malewahi police station area. The mobile network services have been stopped in the area as a result of the fire. Interestingly enough the left ultras urged the people not to move moving in vehicles on the Palli-Barsur road strongly indicating that more subversive activities are on the cards.

The Naxalites after setting fire to the tower in the Malewahi police station area hung posters containing messages protesting against corporatisation, militarisation, bridges, roads, and police camps. Calling on people to save the water, forest, and land, the Naxalites also warned supporters of the Bodhghat project and police informers.