Raipur: A major tragedy was averted after
two Naxal-planted landmines carrying 50 and 25 kg explosives
were unearthed today from a national highway in Dantewada,
barely days after an IED blast left eight CRPF personnel dead
in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district.
A special police team unearthed the landmines from NH-221
near Manikonta village in Errabor following a tip off that
ultras had placed explosives deep under the road, Dantewada
Superintendent of Police Amresh Mishra told PTI.
Naxals also fired at the team which reached there to
de-mine the road. The gun-battle continued for over 30 minutes
following which Maoists fled the spot.
There were, however, no casualties in the encounter and
operations were on to remove the landmines, the SP said.
Mishra said they have received information about the
presence of more Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) and
landmines on the highway following which security forces have
been pressed into service to scan the stretch.
Maoists might have planned another deadly IED blast after
the Bijapur incident on Saturday which claimed the lives of
eight CRPF personnel, he said.
Dantewada district has witnessed the deadliest Naxal
attack on the security forces last month, where 76 CRPF
personnel were trapped and gunned down by the ultras.
-PTI
First Published: Tuesday, May 11, 2010, 00:36