Maoist attack: Vehicle with 7 policemen escapes as driver halts to chew tobacco

A vehicle with seven security personnel escaped a deadly Maoist attack in Chhattisgarh as its driver suddenly halted to chew tobacco. Another vehicle that overtook it took the explosion, killing 10 policemen and the driver instantly.

The driver of the vehicle who survived the Wednesday bloodbath in Dantewada district says he will never be able to forget the horrific scenes as the vehicle which went past him was blow up to pieces along with all 11 occupants.

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“My vehicle was in the second position in the convoy. Seven security personnel were travelling in my vehicle. I slowed down 150-200 metres before the spot where the blast took place to chew pan masala,” the driver in his mid-20s told the media in Dantewada town.

“The vehicle which was behind us overtook us and suddenly an explosion occurred. I think my vehicle was the target but God saved us,” he said, recalling the horror.

He was driving a Scorpio. The vehicle which bore the full impact of the concealed improvised explosive device on a forested stretch of a road was a Multi-Utility Vehicle or MUV.

Police firing

Immediately after the blast, the security personnel travelling in the surviving vehicle jumped out and took up position along the road and opened fire towards the forest, said the driver.

They started shouting asking everyone to take cover and surround the Naxalites and opened fire at random, he said.

“The MUV blew up in front of me. I saw pieces of bodies and the vehicle scattered on the road. I was shocked and crawled beneath my vehicle to hide.”

The driver claimed the firing by the security personnel lasted for about 15 minutes but he did see any movement in the jungle.

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The frightened driver then drove back with the security personnel to Aranpur police station, about one kilometre away from the attack site.

“On the way back, I informed two other vehicles carrying police personnel about the incident. By then they had realised something had happened as the sound of the blast was deafening,” he said.

The driver also saw other District Reserve Guard (DRG) and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel moving towards the blast site on foot.

Driver’s story

Struggling to hold his tears, the young man said he knew Dhaniram Yadav, the driver of the blown-up vehicle.

Visuals recorded on mobile after the blast show security personnel taking up positions along the road. Sounds of flying bullets can be heard in one visual and a person is heard screaming “poora udd gaya” (completely blown up).

Nearly 200 security personnel from the CRPF and DRG launched an operation from Dantewada on Tuesday night after getting to know about the presence of Maoists.

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On Wednesday morning, an exchange of fire erupted between the patrolling team and Naxalites near Nahadi village, seven kilometres away from Aranpur.

It was when the security personnel were returning to their base when the attack — the worst in two years — took place.

The deceased security personnel belonged to the DRG, whose members are recruited from the tribal population and include surrendered Naxalites.

(With agency inputs)