Sukma, Jun 10 (PTI) - The day after a police officer tragically lost his life in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, IG Sundarraj P of the Bastar Range visited the site on Tuesday, affirming that the police are fully equipped to tackle the Naxalite threat. The police resolve is unwavering until the complete eradication of Naxal influence from Bastar, he emphasized.
Another Improvised Explosive Device (IED) laid by the Naxalites was discovered at the incident site on Tuesday, he noted. Security operations have been initiated to apprehend the Naxalites responsible for Monday's attack. The attack resulted in the death of Additional Superintendent of Police (Konta division) Akash Rao Girepunje and left two other officers injured, following an IED detonation at a stone quarry in the Konta police station jurisdiction.
After inspecting the blast site Tuesday morning, Sundarraj proceeded to Konta police station where he spoke with the personnel. He honored the memory of the deceased officer, pledging that the officer's sacrifice will have enduring significance. During a meeting with the jawans, the IG reassured them of their readiness to confront the Naxal challenge head-on.
He called for unwavering strength, determination, and resilience among all security personnel stationed in the Bastar Range. "Our mission will not cease until Bastar is free from Naxalism. The courageous sacrifices of Akash Rao and other martyrs will serve as a beacon, inspiring our drive towards peace, prosperity, and advancement," he asserted.
In the aftermath of Monday's incident, a Bomb Detection and Disposal Team combed through the site, successfully recovering and defusing another pressure IED. They also collected pressure IED components and debris from the location. An FIR has been filed at the Konta Police Station, and further investigations are underway, confirmed the official.
Initiatives are being taken to search nearby areas for the Maoist cadres implicated in the attack, with a promise of stringent action against those responsible for this egregious act. Girepunje, aged 42, hailed from Raipur district and had joined the police force as a deputy superintendent in 2013, serving as ASP of Konta since March of the previous year.
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