IED recovered from Kondagaon

Security forces have recovered a
powerfulImprovised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Maoists, from Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Kondagaon district.
The explosive, weighed 8 kg, was unearthed by a team District Reserve Group (DRG) from a bridge on a rivulet in the dense forests under Vishrampuri police station limits last evening, Kondagaon Superintendent of Police Santosh Singh told PTI.
While the security forces were carrying out an area domination-cum-search operation to the interiors of Vishrampuri region, located around 300 km away from here, they spotted theIEDnear Badadev rivulet bridge between Chanbharri and Saimunda village, the SP said.
"The explosive was placed in a steel tiffin hidden beneath the ground," he added.

Thebomb was meant to harm security personnel during their operations in the region, he said, adding that the explosivewas immediately destroyed by bomb disposal squad.

The report added that apart from tracking the source of
supply of high explosives to the Maoists, banning electrical detonators for commercial purposes may also yield results in curbing its abuse.
The NBDC report, shared with all security, police and intelligence agencies of the country, also states the "most preferred targets" of the Maoists, insurgents and terrorists last year were members of the public and security forces.
"In 2016, there has been an increase in the incidents, where specifically security forces were targeted," it said, adding it has been assessed that "in the last five years, terrorists have targeted the common populace more over the security forces which clearly indicates that terrorists prefer to engage the softer target".

Out of the total 337 bombing incidents last year, 55 per cent were suffered by the common public followed by 37 per cent by the security forces, only 7 per cent by VIPs and 27 per cent were categorised as accidental.
At least 10 Indian states are hit by LWE and security agencies on ground accept that IED blasts continue to be the biggest threat to the safety of their men and resources as Naxals prefer such explosions over one-to-one gunbattle.