16-year-old injured in IED blast in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) [India], July 20 (ANI): A 16-year-old villager was seriously injured in a pressure IED explosion, allegedly planted by Naxals in Kondapadgu village of Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, the police said.
The incident occurred while the teenager was grazing cattle in the forest.
According to the Bijapur Police, the explosion occurred around 5:00 PM on Saturday, when the boy, identified as Krishna Gota, son of Fakir, a resident of Kondapadgu village, accidentally triggered the device.
He sustained severe injuries to his leg and face and was immediately rushed to the district hospital in Bijapur, where he is currently undergoing treatment.
Condemning the incident, the Bijapur Police described it as a "cowardly act," stating, "Even innocent children are no longer safe from Maoist IEDs. In their attempt to spread fear and violence, Maoists have begun targeting children too."
The police have urged residents to remain extremely vigilant in forested areas and to report any suspicious activity or objects to the nearest police station or security camp.
"We urge residents to exercise utmost vigilance in jungle areas and immediately inform the nearest police station or security camp about anything unusual," the police said in a statement. (ANI)