ONE killed, while eleven civilians sustained injuries after the vehicle they were travelling was blown up by a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED), triggered by the Naxals at Ghotiya under Malewdahi Police Station limits of insurgency-hit Dantewada on Thursday morning. Six out of 11 injured are at Dantewada hospital, while five have been discharged after treatment, said police. According to police, the deceased has been identified as Dhansingh (30), a resident of Balaghat, MP. The injured are identified as Ghanshyam Panche (28), Rambhagat Nishad (26), Nand Kumar Sahare (25), Bandi Sahare (35), Yuvraj Panche (17), Manbodh Panche (20), Paleshwar Sahare (22), Sheesh Panche (25) all residents of Rajnandgaon and Ruplal (25), residents of Balaghat Madhya Pradesh.

 

Few more names of the injured were yet to be ascertained. SP Dr Abhishek Pallav said that the incident took place at around 7:30 am near Ghotiya village, located around 400 km from Raipur, on an under-construction route that connects Narayanpur to Dantewada. As per the information, 12 persons were travelling in a Bolero jeep, which was on its way to Dantewada from Narayanpur district. The Bolero came under the impact of the IED blast, causing injuries to all, including a woman. Two of them had sustained critical injuries, out of which one succumbed to injuries, while condition of the other was reported to be critical. Soon after learning about the incident, the security forces reached the spot and rushed the injured to the district hospital.

 

All of them were labourers and were going to Telangana from Balaghat (MP), said sources. Dantewada SP Dr Abhishek Pallav and SDO (P) Abhishek Painkara also reached the spot and lend a helping hand in taking the injured to the hospital. SP added that this is not the first time that Naxals have attacked poor and innocent villagers. He added that since the Naxals could not attack the security forces during the Shaheed week, they have attacked civilians in their attempt to unleash a reign of terror among villagers, he added. “Patrolling has been increased in the area and those Maoists involved in the act will be given a befitting reply,” added SP.