Maoists have acquired expertise to trigger improvised explosive device (IED) blast in air, posing serious challenge to security personnel, a reported alert issued by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has said.
The deadly technique allows the rebels to suspend the IED at a height of 4-5 ft on a tree and carry out the blast by a remote or through a wire at a distance of around 200 metres away. The ultras have successfully tested the technique during their recent attacks on security personnel in Dantewada district, the CRPF report said.
“The new technique can be applied against security personnel with deadly affect. We have to devise ways urgently to counter the danger,” a senior CRPF official told this newspaper here on Sunday.
He feared that the air mines blast would cause more devastation than the landmine explosions for the security personnel, because counterinsurgency operations are currently being done mainly in forested areas in Bastar region.
The rebels will find it easy to plant IEDs on roadside trees to target the vehicles of security personnel.
“As it is, we are finding it hard to escape landmines, planted extensively in 40,000 sq km forested region of Bastar. The air IEDs will further aggravate the situation for us”, he added. Chhattisgarh additional director general of police (ADG), Mr Ram Niwas, said “We are aware of the development. We are taking measures to counter the threat”.
He, however, refused to elaborate further.
Meanwhile, two Naxal leaders, in the rank of divisional commander, surrendered before Bijapur police on Sunday.
Bijapur superintendent of police (SP) R.N.Das said the rebels leaders, who had joined the Maoist rank in 2005, were involved in major operations against security personnel including in the attack on CRPF jawans at Tadmetla in Dantewada district on April 6, 2010, in which 75 CRPF troopers and one policeman were killed.
EOM/