Teen boy loses leg in Maoist IED blast in Bijapur forest

Raipur: A 15-year-old boy was critically injured after stepping on a Maoist-planted pressure improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district on Monday morning, a day after security forces killed 14 Maoists in Bijapur and Sukma districts. The blast occurred in the dense forest of the Gangaloor region, around 4–5 km from the Korcholi CRPF camp, when the boy had gone to collect forest produce for his livelihood. The injured minor, identified as Ram Potam, a resident of Korcholi Nadipara village, suffered severe leg injuries, with one leg blown off in the explosion, officials confirmed. Hearing the blast, a rescue team from the 222nd battalion of the CRPF rushed to the spot. The personnel provided immediate first aid and evacuated the boy to the Bijapur district hospital. Officials said the swift medical response helped prevent excessive blood loss and may have saved his life. "He was stabilised at the camp before being shifted to hospital," a CRPF officer said. Police said the IED was a pressure-triggered device, which explodes when stepped on. Such devices have been a major cause of casualties among civilians and livestock in Bastar, while Maoists typically use manually triggered IEDs for targeted attacks on security forces.The incident comes amid intensified anti-Maoist operations in the region. On Sunday, security forces neutralised 14 Maoists in Bijapur and Sukma, while a senior Bastar Maoist, Barse Deva, surrendered in neighbouring Telangana. Security forces have stepped up search and IED-detection operations across Gangaloor, Korcholi and nearby forest areas, based on recent incidents and inputs from surrendered Maoist cadres. Police warned that Maoists often plant explosives along narrow forest paths, riverbanks and routes commonly used by villagers. Appealing to residents, police urged extreme caution while entering forest areas and asked people to immediately report any suspicious objects or activity. The incident underscores the continuing threat of Maoist landmines in remote Bastar villages, despite ongoing demining efforts. In 2025 alone, security forces have recovered 875 IEDs, more than double the 308 recovered in 2024. Bastar range IGP P Sundarraj said the rise reflected weakened Maoist supply lines and reduced access to explosives.