IED blast by Maoists damages 20-ft road in Kothagudem

Kothagudem: An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was planted by Maoists in between Chelimella and Pedda Medecilleri in Kothagudem, left a crater on a 20-feet road in Chirala Mandal of Kothagudem on Sunday night.

The police are suspecting that approximately 100 Maoists might be connected with this destruction and one major suspect, Arunakka of Charla Shabari Area Committee might also be involved in it.

On September 3, there was an exchange of fire between the Maoists and the police forces in Gundala. In the cross-firing, one Maoist, Guide Divala alias Shankar, a gunman of Haribushan, had been killed by the police forces.

In retaliation to the death of the Gudi Divala, Maoists of Charla Shabari Area Committee have given a bandh call on September 6.

Speaking to Newsmeter, SHO, Charla police station, Ashok said, “A 2-feet pit was dug and an IED was placed in the middle of the road. The blast was so massive that the whole road was damaged. We have sent the IED material for examination and are investigating into the matter.”

“The explosion was heard up to 5 km. The blast was planned to create a disturbance in that area. Two letters were found at the spot written in the name of Charla Shabari Area Committee and Madhavipur, Eturnagaram Area Committee alleging that Maoist Dudi Divala alias Shankar was killed in a fake encounter at Gundala,” the police personnel added.