Naxal IED Attack: 9 Injured In Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur District After Blast Hits Civilian SUV

An improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxal terrorists struck a civilian SUV yesterday (20 March) in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, injuring nine people, reports The New Indian Express. One of those injured is in critical condition.

According to Bijapur Superintendent of Police Govardhan Ram Thakur, the attack happened after dusk at around 7.45 pm near the village of Peddakodepal when the vehicle carrying the civilians was travelling towards the neighbouring district of Dantewada for them to attend a fair there.

"All the nine occupants, including the driver, of the vehicle, were injured in the blast," he said.

A police team quickly reached the site of the attack, taking the wounded to a hospital for medical treatment. Authorities believe that the civilians were probably mistakenly attacked, with the intended target of the IED likely being security forces, whose movements have become more regular with the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.