RAIPUR: In a tragic incident underscoring the persistent dangers faced by security forces in the interior regions of Chhattisgarh, four personnel of the District Reserve Guard (DRG) were killed in a powerful IED blast on Tuesday.
The explosion occurred during a de-mining operation near the Kanker-Narayanpur border area. According to a senior police official, the security team was conducting a dedicated search and deactivation patrol in a forested patch adjacent to Narayanpur district.
The operation was specifically aimed at detecting and neutralizing explosives planted by Naxalite cadres. While maneuvering through the sensitive zone, the squad inadvertently triggered a pre-planted IED.
Four jawans sustained critical injuries in the sudden explosion. The deceased have been identified as Inspector Sukhram Vatti, Constable Krishna Komara, and Constable Sanjay Gadhpale, who succumbed to their wounds on the spot.
The fourth jawan, Constable Parmanand Korram, was critically injured and swiftly airlifted to a medical facility in Raipur for advanced treatment. Despite medical intervention, he later succumbed to his injuries.
This devastating incident is being viewed as the first major strike by Maoists after the government’s landmark announcement on March 31, which stated that the country no longer has any district classified under the Naxal-affected category. The reclassification followed sustained anti-Naxal operations since 2015.
In a subsequent communication sent to nine states on April 8, the central government detailed new surveillance categories. While no district remains in the severe conflict list, 37 districts across nine states, including Chhattisgarh, have been designated under a “priority” category.
This implies that while the immediate threat of large-scale violence is considered diminished, continuous security deployment and development monitoring remain imperative. The focus has now effectively shifted from pure conflict zones to regions requiring robust vigilance.
