Chhattisgarh : Senior police officer killed in IED blast in Sukma , 3 others injured

ASP Akash Rao Giripunje was leading the team in the highly sensitive, Maoist-dominated area when the blast occurred.

Updated on: Jun 9, 2025, 13:10:02 IST

By Ritesh Mishra

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An Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of the Chhattisgarh Police was killed in a pressure IED blast in the Kotna area of Sukma on Monday, a police officer said.

Akash Rao Giripunje, the ASP, was a young and courageous officer from the 2016 batch of the state police service.

Police stated that the incident took place near Dondra village on the Konta-Errabor road.

Three other officers, including a Station House Officer (SHO), a Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP), and another personnel, were injured and shifted to a government hospital in Jagdalpur. The ASP, along with others, was en route to inspect an incident in which vehicles engaged in construction work were set ablaze by Maoists.

Akash Rao Giripunje, the ASP, was a young and courageous officer from the 2016 batch of the state police service. He was leading the team in the highly sensitive, Maoist-dominated area when the blast occurred.

The ASP was rushed to a local hospital in Konta, where doctors declared his condition extremely critical.

Despite all medical efforts, he succumbed to his injuries during treatment.

The other officers and personnel sustained injuries in the explosion, but most of them are reported to be in stable condition. They are undergoing treatment at the government hospital in Konta.

The Maoists had called for a bandh on June 10 in protest against the recent killings of several top Maoist leaders during intense operations in the Bijapur region, including Central Committee member Sudhakar and Telangana State Committee member Bhaskar.

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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