A senior police official was killed and some other personnel were injured when a pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Naxalites exploded in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Monday, police said. Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP-Konta Division) Akash Rao Girepunje and other personnel were out on foot patrolling when the incident took place near Dondra village on Konta-Errabor road, an official said.

The patrolling was launched in view of a bandh called by Naxalites on Tuesday, he said. The ASP, some other police officials and personnel sustained injuries in the blast, the official said. All the injured personnel were shifted to Konta hospital, where the ASP succumbed to his injuries, the official added.

‘Day is not far when naxalites will be erased from Chhattisgarh’

Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the ASP in the IED blast. “Information has been received about the martyrdom of ASP Akash Rao Girpunje in an IED blast carried out by Naxalites in Konta of Sukma district. This is extremely sad. I salute his martyrdom,” Chhattisgarh CM Vishnu Deo Sai wrote on X. 

He added, “There are reports of some other officers and soldiers also being injured in this cowardly attack. Instructions have been given to the officers for the proper treatment of the injured.”

He also said that the security forces are fighting a “big battle” against the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh and the security forces are getting continuous success in it. 

Sai further said that the culprits will be brought to justice, adding, “The day is not far when their existence will be ended from Chhattisgarh.”

‘Akash Rao Girepunje was a brave jawan’: Chhattisgarh Deputy CM

Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma said that ASP Akash Rao was a “brave” jawan and was conferred with various gallantry awards. He informed us that search operations were launched following the incident.

“ASP Sukma, Akash Rao Giripunje, sacrificed his life after being injured due to an IED blast near Dondra on Konta-Errabora road. He was a brave jawan and was given several gallantry awards. It is a sad moment for us. Search and operations have been launched,” he told reporters.

Earlier today, a pressure Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast occurred near Dondra on Konta-Errabora road, due to which ASP Konta Division, Sukma district, Akash Rao Giripunje sustained serious injuries, according to IG Bastar P Sundarraj on Monday.

Some other officers and jawans were injured due to the IED blast.

“A pressure IED blast near Dondra on Konta-Errabora road; ASP Konta Division, District Sukma, Akash Rao Giripunje sustains serious injuries. Some other officers and jawans have also been injured in this pressure IED blast,” IG Sundarraj said in his statement.

According to IG, ASP Giripunje was on foot patrol duty to prevent any Naxalite incident, given the call by CPI (M) for Bharat Bandh on June 10.

“ASP Akash Rao Giripunje was on foot patrol duty in the area to prevent any kind of Naxalite incident in view of the call for Bharat Bandh on 10 June by CPI(M). All the injured are being treated at Konta Hospital…. The other injured are currently out of danger,” IG Sundarraj added in his statement.