SIA to lead probe into martyrASP’s Sukma deadly ambush

 

 IN A crucial shift signalling the gravity of the Maoist-led ambush that martyred Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akash Rao Girepunje, the Chhattisgarh Government has entrusted the investigation to the State Investigation Agency (SIA), known for its counterinsurgency specialisation and NIAmodeled autonomy. The June 9th IED attack near Dondra village in Sukma’s restive Konta division had left ASP Girepunje dead and two senior officers – Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Bhanupratap Chandrakar and Inspector Sonal Gwal – critically injured. Confirming the development,

 

SIA Director Ankit Garg told The Hitavada, “Yes. This case has been handed over to SIA for investigation. The case has been given to SIA for investigation. Director General of Police (DGP) Arun Deo Gautam has given order in this regard.”

 

A six-member SIA unit, led by Superintendent of Police (SP) Neeraj Chandrakar and including officers across the SP to SI rank spectrum, will visit the ambush site within 48 hours. Tasked with reconstructing the attack and tracing those responsible, the team has been granted full logistical freedom to conduct ground-level evidence gathering, digital mapping of Maoist trails, and interrogation of potential local facilitators. Sources suggest SIA is also reviewing operational protocols observed during the site visit that led to the fatality.

 

ASP Girepunje had been returning from an inspection at a torched crusher unit when the pressure-activated IED detonated. The sophistication of the setup –a buried explosive triggered during theexit path – bears hallmarks of elite Maoist strike units. SIA will utilise its direct access to the National Automated

 

Fingerprint Identification System (NAFIS), enabling cross-verification of insurgents’ biometrics from 18 states. Given that fingerprints, DNA samples, or boot impressions may have been left near the blast epicentre, this database becomes central to identifying operatives. Notably, the SIA will also examine whether emergency evacuation protocols were adequately followed after the explosion. ASP Girepunje succumbed to injuries before reaching medical aid, prompting internal assessment of response timelines.

 

The agency will also collect communication logs from wireless sets used during the operation to verify coordination efforts under duress. According to well-placed sources in the SIA, the deployment of the agency marks a deliberate shift from reactive policing to proactive state-led tactical intelligence. With the martyrdom of ASP Girepunje, the spotlight now turns to how effectively the SIA can convert forensic threads and operational gaps into conclusive breakthroughs.