Chhattisgarh police defuse IEDs planted on scarecrows near CRPF camp

Scarecrows dressed in black were placed very close to the CRPF camp to trick security forces into confusing them with Maoists and opening fire.

Updated on: Jul 23, 2019, 07:05:20 IST

Hindustan Times, Raipur | By Ritesh Mishra

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Police in Chhattisgarh defused two improvised explosive devices (IEDs) planted on two scarecrows and placed near an under-construction road in Dantewada district on Sunday, officials said on Monday.

This is not the first time scarecrows have been used by Maoists to confuse security forces in south Bastar. (HT Photo)

The Maoists had put these scarecrows about 400meters from the Kondasawali camp of 231 Battalion of Central Reserve Police Force or CRPF on the Aranpur-Jagargonda road. Police said that IEDs weighed 2kg and 5 kg each and were planted on the scarecrows “to inflict maximum damage” to the security forces moving on the road.

“They thought that since security forces have been dismantling and destroying smaraks (monuments) made by Maoists for upcoming the Maoists’ martyrs’ week, police will remove the scarecrows too and thus would lead to IED blasts,” Dantewada’s superintendent of police Abhishek Pallav said while speaking to HT.

Pallav said the scarecrows dressed in black were placed very close to the CRPF camp to trick security forces into confusing them with Maoists and opening fire.

“Lots of civilian casualties, especially among children who could have touched and moved the scarecrows in curiosity, and casualties to animals could occur with irresponsible implantation of release IEDs,” he said.

It was just desperation to inflict damage on forces in whatever way possible, the SP added.

This is not the first time scarecrows have been used by Maoists to confuse security forces in south Bastar.

“In 2018, they used some scarecrows in Burkapal area in Sukma district but they were only dressed in clothes of security forces. The aim was to confuse the security forces then but this time they have planted IED which shows they are improvising the strategy,” senior police official Jitendra Shukla, who was Sukma’s SP then, said.

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

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