1 dead, 11 others injured in Maoist blast in Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada

Dantewada superintendent of police Abhishek Pallava said the incident took place at around 7.30am near Ghotiya village under Malewadhi police station limits

Updated on: Aug 5, 2021, 10:40:51 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

A labourer died and 11 others were injured after Maoists blew up a vehicle they were travelling in with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh on Thursday, a police official said.

The mangled SUV after the explosion. (Source: Police)

Police said those in the vehicle were mostly labourers. Three of them were critically injured and were rushed to the hospital. One of them, Dhan Singh, succumbed to his injuries later.

Dantewada superintendent of police Abhishek Pallava said the incident took place at around 7.30am near Ghotiya village under Malewadhi police station limits.

Also Read | C’garh villagers sit in protest over man’s death; forces say he was a Maoist

“It was a command IED triggered by Maoists as we have found wires. The blast caused injuries to all the 12, including a woman. Police team rushed to the spot and rescued them,” the SP said.

The SP added that the Maoists may have mistaken the SUV to be a police vehicle and targeted it.

“All of them were labourers and were going to Telangana from Balaghat (MP). No police vehicle is permitted on the under-construction route that connects Narayanpur to Dantewada. The driver was following Google map, so he entered that area and was targeted,” said the SP.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ritesh Mishra
Ritesh Mishra is the State Correspondent for Chhattisgarh with Hindustan Times. He reports on Maoism, internal security, politics, mining, governance, and major developments shaping the state. Based in Raipur, he has covered Chhattisgarh since 2016, reporting extensively from the Bastar region and other conflict-affected areas. With nearly two decades of experience in journalism, Ritesh has built a reputation for ground reporting from some of India's most challenging terrains. His coverage spans Left-Wing Extremism, counter-insurgency operations, elections, tribal affairs, environmental issues, infrastructure, mining, and socio-economic developments. He has reported on major security operations, policy initiatives, wildlife crime, and the changing dynamics of conflict and development in Central India. Before moving to Chhattisgarh, Ritesh spent eight years reporting from Madhya Pradesh, covering politics, administration, crime, development, and social issues. Throughout his career, he has reported on various forms of extremism in Central India, combining field reporting with in-depth analysis to produce accurate, balanced, and impactful journalism. Prior to joining Hindustan Times, Ritesh worked with The Pioneer and The Free Press Journal, where he covered a wide range of beats and honed his skills in political, investigative, and field reporting. His reporting is marked by exclusive stories, extensive fieldwork, and a commitment to factual, on-the-ground journalism that brings complex issues to a wider audience.Read More

Home/Cities/Others/1 Dead, 11 Others Injured In Maoist Blast In Chhattisgarh’s Dantewada