Quick thinking by villagers in Bandepara and Pegadapalli helped avert a possible tragedy as police, CRPF and BDS teams recovered and safely neutralised an old Maoist-planted explosive device
Bijapur, Chhattisgarh: A potentially serious incident was averted in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district after villagers collecting mushrooms in a forest area spotted a suspicious wire and immediately alerted the police instead of touching or disturbing it.
The incident occurred in the Maddeed police station area, where villagers from Bandepara and Pegadapalli had gone into the forest to collect putu (wild mushrooms). During their search, they noticed a wire lying on the ground and became suspicious.
Showing remarkable caution, the villagers did not approach or tamper with the object. They immediately informed the police, following which a joint team of the Maddeed Police, CRPF 22nd Battalion ‘A’ Company Sangampalli and the Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) reached the location.
Old Pressure IED Recovered and Neutralised
During a detailed inspection of the area, the security forces identified the suspicious object as an old pressure beer-bottle IED, allegedly planted by Maoists with the intention of causing casualties among security personnel.
The BDS team followed the required safety procedures and successfully neutralised the explosive at the site.
Officials from Maddeed Police Station, including ASI Suresh Jabba, Assistant Commandant Manoj Kumar of CRPF 22nd Battalion ‘A’ Company Sangampalli, and members of the BDS team participated in the operation.
Police Praise Villagers’ Alertness
The incident has once again highlighted the importance of awareness among villagers living in or travelling through forest areas affected by Maoist activity.
Bijapur Superintendent of Police Umesh Prasad Gupta appealed to residents to remain extremely cautious while travelling through forests, agricultural fields, footpaths and roadsides.
He advised villagers not to touch or move any suspicious object such as a wire, pit, tiffin box, container or abandoned article. Instead, they should immediately inform the police or the nearest security camp.
Authorities stressed that timely information from local residents can play a crucial role in preventing accidents and saving lives.
Bijapur Has Seen Earlier IED Recoveries
The latest recovery comes amid continuing security operations in the Bijapur region. Security forces have recovered IEDs and other explosive material from forest areas in the district during anti-Maoist operations.
In January 2026, a joint team operating in the Bandepara–Neelmadgu forest area under Maddeed police station recovered 16 pressure IEDs, along with a large quantity of explosive-related material. The recovered devices were subsequently neutralised by the BDS team.
The region has also witnessed incidents in which villagers were injured after accidentally coming into contact with pressure IEDs. On July 29, two villagers were injured in separate IED incidents in Bijapur’s Usur area, according to reports.
Why Villager Awareness Is Critical
In areas where unexploded or concealed explosives may remain from earlier Maoist activity, ordinary villagers can unknowingly face serious risks while collecting forest produce, grazing cattle or travelling along traditional routes.
The latest incident demonstrates how recognising a suspicious object, maintaining a safe distance and immediately informing authorities can prevent a potentially fatal situation.
What Villagers Should Do If They Spot a Suspicious Object
If a suspicious wire, container, tiffin box, unusual mound of soil or abandoned object is found:
- Do not touch, move or kick it.
- Move away from the location and maintain a safe distance.
- Do not allow other people to gather around it.
- Immediately inform the police or the nearest security camp.
- Follow the instructions given by security personnel.
Bottom Line
The prompt response of villagers in Bijapur once again proved crucial in preventing a possible tragedy. What initially appeared to be a suspicious wire turned out to be an old pressure IED, which was safely neutralised by the BDS team.
The incident also serves as an important reminder that public awareness and timely reporting remain critical components of security operations in sensitive forest areas.
