Boy injured as IED planted by Naxalites goes off in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur
Bijapur (PTI): A boy suffered injuries after an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxals went off in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, police said on Friday.
The incident took place on Thursday afternoon in Pidia village within the jurisdiction of Gangaloor police station, a police official said.
The minor inadvertently came in contact with the pressure IED, which exploded, causing him injuries, he said.
Local villagers informed security forces about the incident, following which a joint team of CRPF’s (Central Reserve Police Force) 199th and 85th battalions administered preliminary treatment to the boy. He was later shifted to Bijapur district hospital for further medical care, he said.
Security personnel have launched a search in the area to check if more IEDs were planted there, he said.
Maoists often plant IEDs on dirt tracks to target security personnel who use such routes during anti-Naxal operations inside forests. Many civilians have fallen prey to such traps in the past in the Bastar region, police said.
Two people were injured in separate IED blasts in Bijapur district in August.
On July 13, three persons, including a minor girl, were wounded in a similar incident in the Madded area of the district.
A total of 38 people have lost their lives in Maoist violence, including IED blasts, in the Bastar region, comprising seven districts, including Bijapur, so far this year.
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Shivakumar opposes ‘One Nation One Election’, calls it ‘unworkable’
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Saturday strongly opposed the central government’s proposed ‘One Nation One Election’ initiative.
Shivakumar expressed his views at a dialogue on ‘One Nation One Election’ organised by the Joint Parliamentary Study Committee.
He said the plan is a politically motivated, power-centralising scheme that would seriously damage India’s federal structure by weakening states and poses a threat to the democratic system, according to a statement from his office.
As KPCC president and deputy CM of Karnataka, he categorically rejected the proposal, stating that it is being crafted to suit the convenience of those in power at the Centre.
Shivakumar said that the Karnataka Legislative Assembly had already passed a resolution opposing ‘One Nation One Election’ and read out the resolution at the meeting.
He firmly stated that it is “not a workable plan” and added that it is “practically impossible.”
“If a government falls midterm due to political instability, a no-confidence motion, or loss of majority, what is the solution?” he asked.
“Elections are held at different times in different states for different terms. Karnataka had its election in 2023, while Tamil Nadu and Kerala had theirs in 2021, and Punjab and Telangana in 2022 and 2023, respectively. How can these elections with varying schedules be synchronised?” he asked.
He added that the proposal is a ploy to suppress the voices of regional and Opposition parties.
He also said the Karnataka government does not agree with the proposal and remains committed to the position of the Congress party’s national leadership.
