Naxal Insurgents Target CRPF Amid Elections in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR, India — A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was critically injured in a targeted improvised explosive device (IED) blast by Naxal insurgents in Dantewada district on February 11, 2025. The attack occurred amid heightened security for local body elections in the region, raising fresh concerns over the ongoing violence disrupting democratic processes in Bastar.

Head Constable M N Shukla of the CRPF’s 231st Battalion was severely injured after stepping on a pressure-activated IED during an area domination mission near Kamalpost. The unit had been returning from an intelligence-based search operation when the explosion occurred.

“The jawan’s legs were severely mangled, with only bones remaining. He was airlifted to Raipur for advanced treatment,” stated Assistant Superintendent of Police R K Burman, highlighting the severity of Shukla’s injuries.

Following the blast, security forces intensified combing operations in the area, though no arrests have been reported as of now. The attack on the day of urban body elections emphasizes the persistent threats posed by Naxal militants in known strongholds.

Aranpur, where the Tuesday incident took place, is notorious for a devastating IED blast in 2023 that resulted in the deaths of 10 District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel and a civilian driver. That attack, perpetrated by a “small action team” of Naxalites, created a 7-foot crater on the road and scattered body parts across a 70-metre radius, underscoring the region’s instability.

In 2025 alone, the Bastar division has reported multiple IED incidents. A blast in Bijapur on January 6 killed six DRG jawans and a driver, while another on January 17 injured two Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Narayanpur. In addition, two security personnel were injured in Bijapur on February 4. Such attacks reveal the precarious balance between security operations and democratic elections in conflict zones.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah has committed to ending Left-Wing Extremism by 2026, yet the ground realities reflect an ongoing struggle. Conversely, morale among security forces remains high, particularly following a successful operation in Gariyaband district that neutralized 31 Naxal insurgents in Bijapur’s Indravati National Forest on February 9.