CG Police Announces Bounty of Rs 12 Lakh on Naxal Jagdish Sodhi; Photo Viral on Social Media

DANTEWADA: Photos of the Naxal leader, Jagdish Sodhi have gone viral on social media. The police have announced a bounty of Rs 12 lakh on Sodhi who has been booked for the recent IED blast in which 10 DRG Jawans and a civilian were slain. This legal development came as the Darbha division committee of Naxalites claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement and its commander Jagdish is instrumental in Naxal activities in the area.

A lookout has been issued for Sodhi who is speculated as the mastermind behind the blast. He was earlier the secretary of the Katekalyan area committee but was later transferred to the military team of The Darbha Division in Bastar.

Based on the investigation an FIR has been filed against 12 Naxals including Sodhi. Lakhe, Linge, Somdu, Mahesh, Hidma, Umesh, Deve, Nand Kumar, Lakhma, Kosa, and Mukesh are a few of them have been booked under Sections 147, 148, 149, 307, 302, under Arms Act, UAPA Act, and other acts

An investigation into the blast revealed the Naxal attack that killed 11 on Friday was choreographed by the Maoists two months ago. The police further said that the explosive was not “detected’ during the demining exercise conducted a day before the attack (April 26). It added to have been planted beneath the road by digging a tunnel through a ‘foxhole mechanism’ which is a style of digging tunnel because of which it became undetectable.

“The preliminary investigation suggests that the IED was planted at least two months ago or before it. The grass had grown on the layer of soil under which the wire, which was connected to the explosive, was concealed,” Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P told news reporters. He further said that the explosive weighing around 40-50 kg was used and it seems that it was placed 3 to 4 feet beneath the road by digging a tunnel from the roadside.