Bhadradri Kothagudem Superintendent of Police B. Rohith Raju said on Sunday that an Adivasi woman had lost her right leg after inadvertently stepping on an improvised explosive device (IED) allegedly planted by Maoists that went off at Utlapalli village in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district three days ago.

In a statement, the SP said that the woman, identified as Kunjam Pandey, a native of Rampur village in Bijapur district, suffered grievous injuries on her right leg in the IED explosion while returning home, along with her sister, after collecting firewood in the Utlapalli forest area. She had lost her right leg in the incident.

She was shifted to the Government Area Hospital in Bhadrachalam town by Charla police. She is currently undergoing treatment there.

The SP alleged that Maoists are planting landmines in areas frequented by Adivasis for their livelihood, thereby posing grave danger to the lives of innocent tribals. Maoists are trying to obstruct development of Agency areas undermining the interests of Adivasis, he charged.