CRPF seizes 400 kg IEDs from poll-bound Maoist zone

Security forces seized about 400 kg explosives in the form of IEDs from Maoist-hit districts across four states where polling was held on Thursday. However, at Bihar's Munger Maoists exploded landmines killing two CRPF men who were part of a team escorting an election officials on way to polling booths.

The biggest recovery was from Bihar where the CRPF, nodal agency for force movement deployment in 2014 elections, seized 225 kg IEDs —135 kg from Gaya and 90 kg from Aurangabad. Besides, about 90 kg explosives were found from Bastar in south Chhattisgarh, about 52kg from Jharkhand and about 20 kg from Odisha, said Zulfiquar Hasan, CRPF IG (operations), who is EC-appointed chief force coordinator.

At Bhimbandh in Munger though a CRPF team was attacked by Maoists. Around 2.30 am, the CRPF team walked about 12 km on mud road before they could take a vehicle. Around 4.30 am, Maoists ambushed the CRPF vehicle. Two CRPF men were killed in landmine blasts followed by a 30-minute gunbattle.

"After the encounter, the CRPF team escorted the polling party to the booths and polling began on time," said Hasan.

This is the same area where Munger SP K C Surendra Babu was ambushed and killed by Maoists in 2005.

In Chhattisgarh's Sukma, part of Bastar parliamentary constituency, three CRPF men were killed in an encounter when Maoists fired at a CRPF team escorting election officials. Three CRPF men were injured in the gunbattle, but polling was held despite boycott call by Maoists. At the end of the day, polling percentage in Bastar was 51.49%. In 2009 LS polls, this was 47.33%.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Home/Lok-Sabha-Elections-2014/News/CRPF-seizes-400-kg-IEDs-from-poll-bound-Maoist-zone/articleshow/33576202.cms