An additional superintendent rank police officer was killed while several other personnel and officers also sustained injuries when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists went off in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh on Monday (June 9, 2025), said Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Sharma.

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 Mr. Sharma confirmed that ASP Akash Rao Giripunje was killed and expressed grief over his death. Earlier the police had said that Giripunje was critically injured in the blast. 

“Akash Rao Giripunje, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP)— Konta Division, District Sukma, has sustained serious injuries in a pressure IED blast near Dondra on Konta-Errabora road.

Additional SP Akash was on foot patrol duty in the area to prevent any kind of Naxalite incident in view of the call for Bharat Bandh on June 10 by the CPI (Maoist),” a police officer had said earlier..

The officer added that other officers and jawans had also been injured in this pressure IED blast but did not specify their exact number. He further said that the other officers were out of danger. 

“All the injured are being treated at Konta Hospital. Among the injured, the condition of Additional SP Akash Rao is said to be very serious and critical. The other injured are currently out of danger. Efforts are underway to transfer Additional SP Akash Rao to a higher medical centre for better treatment,” the officer said.