Tragic IED Blast Claims Life of Police Officer in Chhattisgarh

Incident Overview
On Monday, an additional superintendent of police was tragically killed when an improvised explosive device, reportedly set by suspected Maoists, detonated in Sukma district, as confirmed by Chhattisgarh's Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai.
In addition to the fatality, two other police personnel sustained injuries during the explosion, according to reports from a news agency.
Details of the Attack
The explosion occurred on the Konta-Aerobora road close to Dronda village while Konta's Additional Superintendent of Police Akash Rao Girepunje, Sub Divisional Officer of Police Bhanupratap Chandrakar, and Station House Officer Sonal Gwala were conducting foot patrols in the area.
They were on patrol in anticipation of a nationwide strike planned for Tuesday by the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), as indicated by an unnamed official. This patrol was also prompted by reports of a bulldozer allegedly set ablaze by suspected Maoists.
During the patrol, Girepunje inadvertently triggered the explosive device, leading to the blast, as reported by a news outlet.
Aftermath and Reactions
Following the incident, Girepunje was rushed to a hospital in Konta but unfortunately succumbed to his injuries. Meanwhile, Chandrakar and Gwala are receiving treatment and are reported to be in stable condition.
Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma announced that search operations are currently ongoing in the vicinity.
Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai condemned the attack, labeling it a cowardly act by the Maoists, who he claimed are becoming increasingly desperate due to the ongoing successes of security forces against left-wing extremism.
He asserted that the Maoists would face repercussions for their actions, emphasizing that their presence in Chhattisgarh would soon come to an end.
Context of Violence
सुकमा जिले के कोंटा में नक्सलियों द्वारा किये गये आई ई डी विस्फोट में ए.एस.पी. आकाश राव गिरपुंजे जी के शहीद होने की सूचना प्राप्त हुई है। यह अत्यंत ही दुखद है। मैं उनकी शहादत को नमन करता हूँ ।
— Vishnu Deo Sai (@vishnudsai) June 9, 2025
इस कायरतापूर्ण हमले में कुछ अन्य अधिकारी व जवानों के भी घायल होने की खबर है।…
On Thursday, the Chief Minister revealed that over 400 suspected Maoists have been killed in the Bastar region during the 2024-2025 period.
Reports indicate that 209 suspected Maoists, including 192 from the Bastar area, have been killed in confrontations with security forces this year.
This includes the death of Nambala Keshav Rao, a leader of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), who was killed in a gunfight with security forces on May 21, along with 26 other suspected Maoists in Narayanpur, Chhattisgarh.
The Union government has consistently pledged to eliminate left-wing extremism in the country by March 31, 2026.