Deep in Chhattisgarh’s Maoist stronghold of Bijapur, tragedy struck when local resident Raju Modiyami triggered a hidden pressure IED planted by rebels in Lankapalli forest. The Friday blast mangled his right foot, severing the heel bone and causing massive blood loss.
Undeterred by the horror, Modiyami summoned inner strength and navigated seven kilometers of rugged jungle paths to a community health center. There, he received urgent care and was swiftly transferred to Bijapur’s district hospital, where specialists are battling to save his limb.
Hospital sources confirm the 30-something tribal’s life hangs in the balance. Surgical teams are addressing the heel fracture and associated trauma under close monitoring.
These ambuscade explosives, designed to ambush patrols and disrupt movement, plague Bastar regions. For tribespeople reliant on jungle produce for survival, they represent a constant peril. Officials have mobilized bomb disposal squads to scour Lankapalli for more devices, aiming to avert additional civilian deaths.
Modiyami’s heroic crawl to safety has become a local legend, symbolizing defiance against insurgent violence. Meanwhile, anti-Naxal efforts gained momentum with the recent neutralization of six hardcore Maoists in Bijapur—a joint operation by DRG, CoBRA, and STF that disrupted rebel networks significantly.
The episode spotlights the urgent imperative for comprehensive de-mining and development in these forgotten frontiers, where ordinary lives collide with ideological warfare.