Bijapur: A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan has been injured as improvised explosive device (IED) laid down by the Naxalites exploded in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Saturday, officials said.

About The Incident

This happened after a team of CRPF from 196 Battalion Mahadev Ghat had left for the forest to carry out area domination in the morning. During the operations, one jawan was injured due to an IED blast.

The injured jawan has been admitted to the District Hospital Bijapur for treatment.

Officials Recover Bodies of 3 Naxals & Several Weapons From An Encounter

Earlier, the bodies of three Naxals and several weapons have been recovered from the encounter that took place in the Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh, an official said.

“Bodies of three Naxals and weapons recovered. The search operation is still underway,” said SP Sukma Kiran Chavan.

About The Encounter

The encounter between security forces and Naxals broke out in the forest at the Sukma-Bijapur border in Chhattisgarh on Thursday.

Superintendent of Police of Sukma, Kiran Chavan, said the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF) and the Central Reserve Police Force’s jungle warfare unit (CoBRA) teams are involved in the encounter.

Chhattisgarh Deputy CM Vijay Sharma reacted to the encounter and informed that the search operation is still underway.”Security forces have had success in their operations in Sukma. Today, the bodies of 3 Naxals have been recovered from there. The search operation is continuing there,” he said.

This comes after eight jawans were killed in an IED blast by Maoists earlier. The security personnel carried out demining exercises to prevent such incidents from happening in the incident.

About The Demining Exercises

The demining exercise focuses on removing the unexploded land mines that may pose a threat to civilians as well.

The forces have deployed personnel in heavy numbers at the location of the incident. The blast was so powerful that it created a huge hole and cracks in the concrete road. Similarly, the remains of the vehicle were scattered for several meters.

Eight jawans from the District Reserve Guards (DRG) and one civilian driver were killed in an IED blast triggered by the Naxalites in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district on Monday, an official said.

According to Bastar Inspector General (IG) Sundarraj P, the jawans were returning from a joint operation of Dantewada, Narayanpur and Bijapur police when the blast occurred.

Union Home Minister Expresses Deep Sorrow Over The Loss Of Lives Of DRG Personnel In Bijapur IED Blast

Meanwhile, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives of District Reserve Guard (DRG) personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur IED blast earlier on Monday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah reaffirmed the Central government’s commitment to assuring that the sacrifices of these soldiers will not go in vain and Naxalism will be eradicated from Indian soil by March 2026.

Shah took to X to extend his condolences to the bereaved families after the news circulated about the tragic incident in which eight personnel of the DRG and their civilian driver lost their lives when Naxalites detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) targeting their vehicle on the Kutru-Bedre road in Bijapur district.

“I am deeply saddened by the news of losing DRG personnel in the IED blast in Bijapur (Chhattisgarh). I extend my heartfelt condolences to the families of the brave soldiers. It is impossible to express this grief in words, but I assure you that the sacrifices of our soldiers will not go in vain. We will eradicate Naxalism from Indian soil by March 2026,” Shah said.

The attack occurred as the DRG team was returning from an anti-Naxal operation. The powerful explosion destroyed the vehicle, leading to the immediate deaths of all nine occupants. This marks one of the deadliest attacks on security forces in the region in recent times.

New Delhi: The BJP and AAP have escalated their rivalry ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections with a heated poster war, each targeting the other’s leaders with sharp political barbs on Saturday.

Today’s controversy began with AAP releasing a poster targeting BJP’s Kalkaji candidate Ramesh Bidhuri. The poster portrayed Bidhuri as a demon under the title, “BJP’s foul-mouthed CM face,” and read, “Directed by the foul-mouthed Party, starring Ramesh Bidhuri.”

Alongside the poster, AAP shared a scathing caption: “The foul-mouthed face of the foul-mouthed party.” This creative yet pointed attack aimed to show the AAP’s narrative about the BJP’s alleged use of divisive rhetoric.

BJP’s Equally Interesting Response

In retaliation, the BJP unveiled its own poster taking a direct hit at AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal. Labelling him the “Sheeshmahal-dwelling AAP-da-e-Azam,” the BJP coined the term “AAPda” (disaster) to intensify its criticism. The party has repeatedly accused Kejriwal of extravagance, particularly citing the alleged Rs 80 crore expenditure on his official residence, which it derisively refers to as “Sheeshmahal.”

The BJP’s poster was captioned, “Thug Films Presents Sheeshmahal-dwelling AAP-da-e-Azam. Directed by Arvind Kejriwal.” The accompanying post read: “The people of Delhi have resolved to oust the Sheeshmahal-dwelling AAP-da-e-Azam.” This counter-attack highlighted the BJP’s strategy to project AAP as disconnected from the common man’s struggles.

The exchange of barbs through creative visuals and biting captions has added a theatrical dimension to an already intense election campaign. Both parties aim to sway voters through these targeted jibes, amplifying the animosity between them.

Delhi voters are set to cast their ballots in a single-phase election on February 5, with results scheduled for February 8. The political battle involves a triangular contest among AAP, BJP and Congress.

Tough Contest In Delhi Assembly Polls

AAP is vying for a third consecutive term amid corruption allegations and accusations of mismanagement. The party’s campaign leans heavily on welfare initiatives for women and the elderly, aiming to counteract anti-incumbency sentiments. Meanwhile, the BJP hopes to leverage these controversies to consolidate voter support and present itself as a cleaner alternative.

This election, seen as the first major political test of 2025, holds key prestige for all three parties. Kejriwal’s leadership, tarnished by the liquor policy case last year, faces a critical challenge as the AAP seeks to reestablish its dominance in Delhi politics.

Ganderbal, Jan 11: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to visit Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) on January 13 to inaugurate the Z-Morh Tunnel, a key infrastructure project designed to provide all-weather connectivity to the scenic hill station of Sonamarg.

According to official sources, the Z-Morh Tunnel, a 6.5-kilometre-long, two-lane road tunnel between Gagangir and Sonamarg, will bypass the avalanche-prone Gagangir-Sonamarg road.

The tunnel is named after the ‘Z-shaped’ stretch of road it replaces, drastically reducing travel time to just 15 minutes compared to hours along the previous route.

A local resident expressed his gratitude, stressing the importance of the route for enhancing connectivity in winter.

“It is very important, after its construction, the Sonamarg-Ladakh road will now remain open throughout the year. Since Ladakh is a border area, therefore, for Defence, the normal goods that had to be transported by air, could now be transported by road after the construction and opening of this tunnel. So, this is very important,” he said.

“People are happy, and we thank the Central government. The Prime Minister is going to inaugurate it on January 13. The Central government, especially Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, has taken many initiatives with this,” he added.

The tunnel, along with the adjacent Zoji-La Tunnel, is strategically vital for providing weather-proof connectivity to areas like Baltal (Amarnath Cave), Kargil, and Ladakh. The infrastructure will not only enhance military logistics but also stimulate tourism and economic activities, creating employment opportunities for the local youth.

Started in 2018, the Z-Morh Tunnel is one of 31 road tunnels being developed in the region — 20 in Jammu and Kashmir and 11 in Ladakh.

The project, however, faced tragic challenges, including a terror attack on October 20, 2024, when two terrorists stormed the workers’ camp at Gagangir, killing seven civilians, including six non-local workers and a local doctor.

The Z-Morh Tunnel’s inauguration marks a milestone in improving connectivity and fostering development in the region, further reinforcing its geostrategic and economic significance.