Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, January 6 – Eight District Reserve Guards (DRG) personnel and their civilian driver lost their lives on Monday when Naxals detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) in Bijapur district, according to police.
The explosion occurred near Ambeli village under Kutru police station limits as the jawans were returning in a Scorpio vehicle after conducting an anti-Naxalite operation. “The attack is a grim reminder of the challenges faced by security forces in the region,” said Inspector General of Police (Bastar Range) Sundarraj P.
Officials confirmed it was the most significant Naxal attack on security personnel in the state in two years. A similar ambush on April 26, 2023, in neighboring Dantewada district, resulted in the deaths of ten police personnel and a civilian driver.
The DRG, a specialized state police unit trained for counter-insurgency, has been at the forefront of tackling the Naxalite insurgency in Chhattisgarh.
Authorities are investigating the incident and assessing operational strategies to counter such threats.
