IEDs pose major challenge to security forces in Bastar

DANTEWADA (Bastar, Chhattisgarh): Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) are posing a major threat in Maoist insurgency hit tribal Bastar, more than any other assault weapon, and claiming lives in large numbers as neither mine-detection equipment nor process of de-mining have proved full-proof against the IEDs being planted by the left wing extremists.

More than 1400 IEDs were detected and diffused in past nine years, police said quoting statistics, adding that 78 security personnel were killed and 212 injured in the IED blasts during the period.

Considered as the most indigenous explosive which isn’t manufactured anywhere, IEDs have proved to be deadly for security personnel and during Maoist ambush against political parties. Maoists often trigger IEDs to intercept movement of forces and political convoys before opening indiscriminate fire at them.

Not just inflicting serious injuries of claiming lives of people, IEDs also blow up anti-landmine vehicles which usually sustain pressures of conventional landmine blasts on borders.

Brig. B K Ponwar, Director of Jungle Warfare College at Kanker, says that IEDs have done maximum damage to lives in Bastar than any other weapon.

“No vehicle can withstand IEDs. The IED is made up of an easily available detonating wire that works like a catalyst and is connected to two wires with the battery and another to the IED. The death trap is stuffed into a tin or vessel with hole in the bottom and is covered in plastic and placed four-five feet under the ground. The cordtex wire attached to the box is long and extended across the road to the closest field or hidden area from where the Maoists keep a watch on movement of targeted vehicle and connect the two live wires at the right time,” Ponwar elaborated.

“Mine-detection equipment are used to detect metallic as well as non-metallic containers but aren’t always available at all places. Moreover, when the IEDs are planted at tricky curves or diversions on a construction site, the IEDs go undetected at times. There could also be chance of mechanical error, hence, it’s important to utilize all options including human observation and dog squads. The equipment has a limitation of detecting IED only 3-4 feet down the ground and very well aware about the shortcoming, Maoists plant them deeper”, he explained.

Ponwar said that more number of sniffer dogs can be trained and utilized for detecting IEDs as it has been very successful. They smell ammonium-nitrate-the gun powder and IEDs get diffused. He insisted on thoroughly following the guidelines of road opening party which is supposed to move in “V” shape.

“In the recent past, ROPs have helped bringing down the number of IED blasts and neutralised most of them with least number of casualty. The two “Vs” coming from both ends of the ROP meet at one sanitizing the whole range of kilometre till the convoy passes. In incident like that in Kuakonda on Tuesday, it appears that despite de-mining of the region a day before as claimed by Dantewada SP, Maoists would have planted the bomb the night before,” Ponwar said.

Earlier, Bastar being a mineral rich land with abundance of iron-ore, mine defecting staff used to get mislead with the beep on detection of minerals. But now, calibration of mine-detection equipment is done in such a way that nature of soil or land is not a challenge anymore.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (anti Maoist operations) P Sundarraj had informed that on an average, there are nearly 300

IEDs detected and diffused every year against an average of about 70 IED blasts taking place each year.

The detection of IEDs is such a humongous task for security forces among other traps like spike holes, pressure bombs that it has become the easiest, cheapest and deadliest weapon for Maoists to attack. Former chief minister Raman Singh had earlier said, “If we excel in IED detection, this battle (against Maoists) will be finished within six months.”