On May 2, four personnel from the District Reserve Guard (DRG) were killed in an accidental Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast while conducting a routine operation in the Bastar division of Chhattisgarh, India. The explosion occurred in the forest area bordering Narayanpur and Kanker districts during efforts to recover Maoist dumps. Inspector Sukhram Bhatti and three constables—Parmanand Korram, Krishna Kumar, and Sanjay Garhpale—were involved in the operation. While three died on the spot, Parmanand succumbed to injuries after being airlifted to Raipur. The Inspector General of Bastar Range, Sundarraj P, noted that the operation was part of ongoing anti-Maoist efforts, which have successfully recovered over 1,200 IEDs and 300 weapons since early 2025. He emphasized that IEDs remain a complex challenge for security forces, with various types and environmental factors affecting their operation. Despite the tragedy, operations to clear IEDs and recover Maoist materials will persist in the region.