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Three DRG personnel die in IED blast during demining in Kanker, Chhattisgarh
An IED exploded during a demining operation in Kanker district, killing inspector Sukhram Vatti and two constables, with another constable injured. The blast occurred in a forested area near the Narayanpur border, during an operation to trace and defuse IEDs allegedly planted by Naxalites. This is noted as the first Naxalite-linked blast in the state since March 31, 2026.
Why It Matters
The incident underscores ongoing security challenges in the Bastar region and raises questions about the efficacy of ongoing demining and counter-Naxalite efforts after a government statement of Maoist withdrawal.
Timeline
2 Events
May 2, 2026: IED blast during demining in Kanker kills three DRG personnel, injures one
May 2, 2026
Three DRG personnel, including Inspector Sukhram Vatti, Constable Krishna Komra, and Constable Sanjay Gadhpale, were killed on the spot after an IED exploded while the team was defusing it in a forested area under Chhotebethiya police station near the Narayanpur border. A fourth DRG member, Constable Parmanand Komra, was injured and is undergoing treatment. The IGP Sundarraj Pattilingam noted that security forces had recovered and neutralised hundreds of IEDs across the Bastar Range in recent months, and that this blast is the first linked to Naxalite activity since March 31.
March 31, 2026: Authorities declare country free from armed Maoists
March 31, 2026
The article notes that authorities declared the country free from armed Maoists on March 31, 2026, a milestone referenced in relation to the latest blast in Chhattisgarh.