In 2024, as many as 308 IED were seized by the security forces in Bastar region alone, 278 in 2020; 163 in 2021; 128 in 2022; 242 in 2023 and 81 till February this year. In January 2025, Maoists blew up a police vehicle killing nine people, including eight jawans of the District Reserve Guard and a civilian driver, using a powerful IED in Bijapur. This was among the biggest strikes by Maoists on security forces in the state in the past two years and the first counter offensive in 2025.
IED detonated near Ambeli village when DRG personnel from Dantewada were returning in their Scorpio after an anti-Maoist operation. DRG is a unit of the state police and its personnel are recruited from local tribal populations and from surrendered Maoists. Until May 31, 2025, 28 civilians and 10 personnel have been killed.
The recent action by security forces on LWE has crippled the movement started in 1967 from Naxalbari in West Bengal. With most of its top leadership either arrested, surrendered or killed in police action. The LWE area is now confined to 18 districts across the country.
