The security forces arrested fifteen Naxalites following an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, police informed on Tuesday. Our of 15 seven arrested Naxalites are women.
According to the police, the joint security forces of District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Bastar Fighters, both units of state police were conducting a search operation when the Naxalites triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) on Sunday. However, no one was injured in the explosion.
Following the blast, the Naxalites were apprehended near Gumalnar village under Geedam police station limits, Dantewada Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Unnati Thakur told media.
She further said that most of the apprehended Naxalites were active in frontal outfits of the outlawed CPI (Maoist).
Search Operation launched on Saturday
Notably, the seach operation was launched by patrolling team in the forest of Gumalnar and Mustalnar villages, on Saturday. At around 4:30 pm on Sunday, Naxalites triggered an IED blast to target security personnel, she said.
DSP Unnati said that some suspects were seen trying to escape from the spot after the blast, but vigilant security personnel chased and nabbed 15 of them.
During interrogation, they revealed that they were hiding in a forest to target security personnel, Thakur said.
Explosives and other materials confiscated
Meanwhile, One IED, electric wire, detonator, a steel tiffin box, Naxalite pamphlets and literature, along with Naxalites uniform and items of daily use were confiscated from their possession.
The arrested Naxalites were produced in court and were remanded in judicial custody, the official added.
Earlier on Monday, the security forces informed about another arrests of three other Naxalites having a cumulative bounty of over Rs 2.1 lakh over their head, from Bijapur, Chhattisagrh. The arrested Naxalites were identified as Ashok Korsa (25), Iriya Kadti, alias Bandu, and Laxman Phulsum, alias Lakhma. While Ashok was nabbed on Monday, Iriya and Laxman were arrested on Sunday.
(With PTI Inputs)
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