15 security men were killed in an IED explosion in Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra

The higher fatality ratio in states affected by left-wing extremism, according to MHA, indicates the Maoists are well-adapted to the jungle terrain

NEW DELHI: Union home ministry officials have said that the use of powerful improvised explosive devices (IEDs) by Maoists to attack security forces is the next big challenge, especially after back-to-back incidents where security forces and civilians have been targeted by the left-wing extremists.

On Wednesday, 15 security men were killed in an IED explosion in Gadhchiroli in Maharashtra, while BJP MLA Bheema Mandavi was killed in Chhattisgarh when Maoists detonated an IED last month.

In fact, more policemen have been maimed in IED blasts than they have suffered in direct combats, said an official, adding that CRPF, the lead force engaged in anti-Naxal operations, has alone seized 71 IEDs with the maximum in Chhattisgarh (37), followed by Jharkhand (22) till April 30.

“Among the 28 security personnel killed this year, 22 were martyred in IED blasts. The number of IED fatalities were only 7 out of the 78 killed in 2017. We can say that Maoists are focussing on IEDs to avoid direct confrontation with security forces to minimise their own causalities,” said a home ministry official.

From the analysis of the recent IED attacks, it has come to light that 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 security force camps, blowing mine proof vehicles apart from creating a minefield for targeting a foot patrol, ET has learnt.

But these attacks were successful because of lapses on the part of security forces, said officials familiar with the matter. “And one of them was not following the laid down standard operating procedure. We are trying to teach our Jawans to be alert, particularly at the time of troop movement. Any unusual activity or movement should ring an alarm bell,” the MHA official said, while pointing to lapses of Maharashtra police personnel in Gadhchiroli on Wednesday.

The higher fatality ratio in states affected by left-wing extremism, according to MHA, indicates the Maoists are well-adapted to the jungle terrain. The high casualties have been caused by explosion of high-intensity IEDs.