CRPF sniffer dog saves many from blast

Axel, a specially trained sniffer dog engaged in the anti-bomb disposal squad of the Central Reserve Police Force on Thursday saved many lives as he successfully detected an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by suspected Maoists at Hatamuniguda on the Rayagada-Muniguda road in Odisha’s Rayagada district, nearly 450 km from here.

The dog, however, sustained grievous injuries in his legs and lower part of the eye while locating the IED. Soon after Axel detected the IED buried in a pit — the bomb disposal experts defused it. According to experts, had the IED not been detected early morning, the Maoists would have triggered it off later in the day, inflicting heavy causalities to paramilitary personnel.

The IED, weighing about 5kg, could have even damaged anti-landmine vehicles, the experts added.

Aged about seven years, Axel has been with the CRPF sniffer squad for over four years now. His trainer Shambhu Prasad is taking care him after the injury.

Sources informed that the rebels planted the IED at Hatamuniguda knowing well that the CRPF and Odisha police personnel would soon pass through the route for combing operation in Kalahandi, Kandhamal and Rayagada districts.

Meanwhile, the one-day bandh call given by Red rebels in five states in protest of the October 24 encounter — in which 30 of their colleagues were eliminated in Malkangiri district — threw life out of gear in southern and western parts of the state. Reports from Kandhamal Kalahandi, Koraput, Rayagada, Malkangiri and Nowrangpur said vehicular movement came to a grinding halt, even as government and private organisation witnessed thin attendance. The Maoists blockaded roads at several areas by felling trees.

Security was beefed up in Maoist-affected districts of Odisha.

While bus services came to a grinding halt in Malkangiri, plying of government-run buses in Koraput and Rayagada remained off. The decision was taken to avert any possible untoward incident, said Rayagada deputy transport manager Paresh Kumar Thatoi. The situation was similar in Kandhamal district. The Maoists blocked the Baliguda-Muniguda route by laying trees on road near Kurtamgarh in G Udayagiri, sources said.

Maoist posters were found pasted on trees at several places in Rayagada, Malkangiri and Kalahandi districts.

It may be recalled here that 28 Maoists were killed in a gunbattle with security forces which also left a Greyhounds commando dead in the cut-off areas of Chitrakonda in Malkangiri district on October 24. Two more Maoists were killed in an exchange of fire with security forces at Panasput forest in Malkangiri on October 27.