"This is a cowardly act of Naxals": Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma after two Jawans injured in IED blast in Bijapur

Jan 16, 2025

Kawardha (Chhattisgarh) [India], January 16 : Chhattisgarh Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma said that Naxals have planted Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) everywhere and termed the Bijapur Naxal attack as a cowardly act. Two Jawans were injured in the attack
On the IED blast in Bijapur, Sharma told ANI, "This is a cowardly act of Naxals. They have placed IEDs everywhere. Security personnel, civilians and animals are also getting killed in it. Yesterday, 2 security personnel were hit by IED...Both have been admitted to the hospital and both are safe..."
"One Jawan sustained an injury in his leg while the other Jawan sustained an injury on his face," he informed.
Two jawans were injured in a pressure IED blast planted by Naxalites near Putkel village under the Basaguda police station area here on Thursday morning, according to Bijapur Police.
The injured jawans have been evacuated. Their condition is stable and they are out of danger, the police added.
The blast comes amid the security forces intensifying anti-Naxal operations in Bijapur.
On January 12, five Naxalites including two women were killed in an encounter with security forces in Bijapur.
Several automatic and other weapons and explosives were recovered from the forests under the National Park area of the Bijapur district.
The recovered weapons included one SLR rifle, one 12-bore rifle, two single-shot rifles, one BGL launcher, and one locally made Bharmar gun, along with explosives, Maoist literature, and other Naxal materials.
Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai had saluted the courage of the security forces after the encounter.
Speaking to ANI, Sai had said "We salute the courage of our security forces. Our security forces have been fighting strongly against Naxalism for the last year and have also been succeeding which has been praised by everyone. Our Prime Minister is working on ending Naxalism by 2026 and his mission will definitely be achieved."
On January 11, a CRPF jawan was injured as an IED laid down by the Naxalites exploded in Bijapur.