Chhattisgarh Maoist IED Blast Kills 9, Raises Questions on Security Lapses

The deadliest Maoist attack in two years highlights alleged failures in convoy protocols and road safety measures in Bijapur district.

Nine people, including eight security personnel and a civilian driver, were killed in an IED blast in Bijapur, Chhattisgarh, marking the deadliest Maoist attack in the state since 2023.
The explosion targeted a vehicle in a convoy returning from an anti-Maoist operation, with the IED reportedly containing 50-70 kg of explosives buried over five feet deep.
Allegations of lapses in standard operating procedures (SOPs) have surfaced, including claims of insufficient road sanitization and inadequate deployment of Road Opening Party (ROP).
Five of the slain security personnel were former Maoists who had surrendered and joined the District Reserve Guard (DRG), a frontline anti-Naxal force in the Bastar region.
Authorities are investigating how the IED evaded detection and whether alternative travel methods, such as using motorbikes instead of SUVs, could have mitigated the loss of lives.