Two children killed in explosion in Maoist-hit Bijapur

RAIPUR: Two children were killed in an explosion at a forest village in the Bijapur district, within the Maoist-affected tribal Bastar region of Chhattisgarh on Monday. It appears that one of them attempted to break what turned out to be an improvised explosive device (IED) with a stone, unaware of its nature, police said.

Bijapur police stated that the children, identified as 13-year-old Laxman Oyam and 11-year-old Boti Oyam, seemingly came across the IED planted by the Maoists near the forest village of Odsapara, situated within the Bhairamgarh police station area in the Maoist-affected Bijapur district. Both children hailed from Gurga village, located near the Indravati river.

Their bodies are being brought back, and a case is being filed for investigation, police said.

Reports indicate that a group of children had ventured into the forested area to gather tendu leaves when they noticed the object. One of them struck it with a rock, triggering the explosion.