A landmine blast site. Telegraph picture

Patna, Jan. 19: The maiden landmine blast on a metallic road in Bihar that killed a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel last Monday has sent the Bihar police top brass into a tizzy.

The officers associated with anti-Naxalite operations were taken aback by the new disconcerting trend emerging in the Maoist-hit areas. “This is the first landmine explosion triggered by the rebels on a concrete road in the state,” said inspector-general (operations) K.S. Dwivedi.

Dwivedi, who is also in-charge of the anti-Naxalite cell at the state police headquarters, said the police headquarters would soon submit a proposal to the state government to bring the contractors awarded concrete road construction work in Naxalite-hit areas under the surveillance of the security agencies.

“The onus also lies on the representatives of the construction companies if landmine explosions on concrete roads take place after completion of the work,” Dwivedi said, adding such explosions can be prevented only through precautionary measures.

The police said the Maoists triggered landmines planted under the concrete road near Chakarbandha, about 98km from the district headquarters at Gaya, last Monday to prevent the security forces from proceeding towards Barha village where senior Naxalite leaders had assembled to participate in the shradh karma (rituals) of one Ajay Sah, a staunch sympathiser of Naxalites.

The explosions were so powerful that they created a 7’x10’ crater. A CRPF personnel, identified as Sanjeev Kumar Singh, was killed in the explosion while another received gunshot injury in the ensuing gunbattle.

“The casualty would have been more had the security forces travelled in vehicles,” said Gaya City superintendent of police Daljeet Singh.

He said the security personnel were strictly warned not to use vehicles to reach the village and move on foot only. The concrete road was constructed about four-five months ago. The police suspect the landmines were planted during construction of the road.

A senior police officer associated with anti-Naxalite operation told The Telegraph that the credentials of the contractors should be verified before awarding them contract for construction of roads in Naxalite-hit areas. The officer did not rule out the possibility of nexus between the contractors and Maoists in laying landmines under concrete roads in Maoist-hit areas.