An Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Akash Rao Giripunj, was killed and several other police personnel were injured in an IED blast in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh. The incident occurred near the village of Dondra. The ASP, who was attached to the Konta division, succumbed to his injuries during treatment. The blast took place while police were patrolling the area, which was in response to a bandh called by Naxals. The injured have been taken to the Konta hospital for treatment. Deputy CM Vijay Shamra expressed grief, calling the ASP a brave soldier who was awarded several gallantry awards. Search operations have been intensified in the area following the attack. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges faced by security forces in combating Naxal activities, despite successes in recent operations. The state has been witnessing a series of attacks by Naxals targeting security forces, with the IEDs posing a major threat. Earlier, in January 2025, a major Naxal attack in Bijapur district resulted in the death of nine people, including security personnel and a civilian driver. The recent attack occurred between 9 and 10 AM.
