Chattisgarh, Jharkhand, Odisha, Bihar and Maharashtra are among the 10 Left Wing Extremism (LWE) affected states.
A report prepared by the central security agencies stated that as many as 1,702 IEDs weighing about 5,908 kgs have been recovered from the LWE-affected states in 2015, in a sharp rise compared to the previous year, and the disturbing trend is continuing.
The report, accessed by PTI, said that during 2014, 523 IEDs were recovered and were half the weight of the bombs seized in 2015.
A senior official working in the anti-Naxal operations domain said today that in the first three-and-a-half months this year, there was again a spurt in IED related casualties and injuries.
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"While nine personnel lost their lives, 13 have been injured and two had to undergo amputation during this time period. About 250 such improvised bombs have been recovered this year," he said.
With back-to-back incidents of security forces personnel and civilians being targeted by using the IEDs in the affected states in the recent past, central security agencies and the operations command of the CRPF have ordered a "strict observance" of operating procedures, usage of sniffer dogs, and effective gathering of intelligence every time a patrol goes out or an operation is executed.
"Gun battles are reducing between security forces and Naxals. It has been analysed that Maoist cadres are low on weapons and obviously no match with the security forces when it comes to fire power. Hence, IED attacks of the deadly variety are increasing," the official said.
"Maoists have elevated IED warfare on the security forces using a cocktail of command wire IEDs to victim operated IEDs to radio controlled ones. They are capable of launching rocket attacks on camps of security forces, blowing mine proof vehicles apart and creating a minefield for targeting a foot patrol. So, wherever the forces are in conflict zones they can be targeted," the report said.