Bijapur, July 14 — A teenage girl and two men sustained serious injuries after inadvertently triggering a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by Naxalites in a forest near Dhangol village, under Madded police station limits in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when the victims — identified as Kavita Kudiam (16), Korse Santosh (26), and Chidem Kanhaiya (24) — had ventured into the forest to collect wild mushrooms. According to police officials, the trio accidentally stepped on the pressure-sensitive IED, which exploded and caused injuries to their legs and faces.
All three were rushed to the Bijapur District Hospital, where they are currently undergoing treatment. Their condition is reported to be stable.
Security forces believe the explosive was part of a trap laid by Naxalites to target personnel involved in anti-insurgency operations. Such devices are commonly planted along dirt tracks and forest routes used by security teams, but have increasingly endangered civilians in the Bastar region, which includes Bijapur.
Authorities have urged residents to exercise extreme caution when entering forested areas and to report any suspicious objects or activity to the nearest police station. The incident underscores the persistent threat posed by left-wing extremism in the region and the collateral risks faced by local communities.
