CENTRAL RESERVE POLICE FORCE, Ministry of Home Affairs Date: 12 April, 2016 New Delhi-110003

IEDs PLANTED BY MAOISTS CONTINUE TO TAKE ITS TOLL IN SOUTH BASTAR

Shri B. K. Shyam Niwas, Dy Comdt of 217 Bn CRPF who was seriously injured in an IED blast on 11 March 2016 near in of breathed his last in Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, today morning. 217 Bn CRPF is deployed in the severely LWE affected district of Sukma . While facilitating road construction between Konta and Golapalli, falling under Konta block of Chhattisgarh district, the officer alongwith his troops detected some IEDs. While the Bomb Disposal Squad was trying to defuse it under his close supervision, the IED blasted causing serious injuries to Shri Shyam Niwas, another Shri Prabhakar Tripathi, Dy Comdt and Head Constable Ranga Raghavan. All the three were immediately airlifted to Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences, Hyderabad. The Head Constable succumbed to injuries en-route to Hyderabad. Shri Shyam Niwas having sustained severe splinter injuries in his head had slipped into a coma ever since. After showing signs of recovery, he eventually succumbed to his injuries today morning at around 8.30 with his family by his side. The 45 year old officer is survived by his wife and a teenaged daughter and son. His last rites will be performed tomorrow in his native place Village – Keshogiri in Rangareddy district of AP with full state honour

Shri Shyam Niwas, Dy Comdt had joined CRPF as a direct Sub Inspector in March 1993 and rose to the rank of an Asstt Comdt in 2006. The officer had joined 217 Bn on promotion as Dy Comdt in March 2014. A gallant officer, he served with great distinction in Punjab, Northeast and Chhattisgarh and was involved in many successful operations against the maoists. He achieved martyrdom leading one such operation. He was very popular amongst his peers and subordinates alike for his sense of responsibility and leadership traits

“His martyrdom is an irreparable loss to the family and the Force. The Force stands by the aggrieved family in their hour of grief” said Shri Durga Prasad, Director General, CRPF.

Since May 2015 the security forces have unearthed a number of IEDs in South Bastar, specially on the Sukma - Konta axis, foiling the designs of the Maoists to strike at the security forces, after the state as well as the central forces had stepped up the offensive against the Maoists. In the wake of adverses that they had continued to suffer, the Maoists have been increasingly relying on IEDs to get even with the forces without engaging them directly fearing losses.