CRPF Jawan killed, four injured

Incident happens when security personnel accidentally steps on an IED planted by extremists at Murliguda near Konta in Chhattisgarh, 80 km from Bhadrachalam

Bhadrachalam (Khammam): In what is described as retaliation to the encounter on March 1 in which eight of their comrades were killed in Tettepadu forest area, the CPI-Maoists on Friday hit back with an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which they planted some time ago at Murliguda near Konta in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, 80 kilometers from Bhadrachalam, killing one security personnel and injuring four others.

It is learnt that the CRPF Jawans of 217 Battalion, who were providing security to the road which is under construction between Murliguda and Konta, unknowingly stepped over a pressure IED at around 9.30 am. The pressure bomb went off instantaneously injuring five Jawans, including two Deputy Commandants.

Two Deputy Commandants, Prabhat Tripati and Shyam Nivas, and the head constable Ranga Raghavan, who sustained critical injuries, were rushed to Bhadrachalam Area Hospital and later airlifted to Hyderabad for medical care. However, Ranga Raghavan succumbed to splinter injuries. While the condition of Shyam Nivas is critical, Tripati is said to be out of danger, according to sources.

The incident happened within half-a-kilometre range from the base of 217 Battalion which was established near Konta last year. The sources also said there was possibility of more IEDs existing within the 5-kilometre radius of the base. Meanwhile, there is another version doing rounds about the blast. The pressure IED went off when the security personnel were trying to diffuse it.

It may be mentioned here that the Central government’s development initiatives roadways and communication infrastructure under the Integrated Action Plan (IAP) for Left Wing Extremism (LWE)-affected areas spread across Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states have become targets for the Maoists. This is the second strike by the outlawed outfit after the March 1 encounter. In last Friday’s attack in Kistaram forest area, they killed three security personnel. Thirteen personnel were also injured in that incident.