Sloth bear, its two cubs killed in IED explosion in Chhattisgarh

Dantewada ASP, RK Burman, informed the media that the police learned about the incident via social media. According to reports, the Maoists had planted an IED in the forest, which was triggered when a sloth bear stepped on it. The bear died instantly, while its cubs starved to death as their mother was no longer alive.

Kothagudem: A female sloth bear was killed in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion in the forests under Barsur police station limits in Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.

Locals spotted the dead bear, her two cubs and IED splinters near their bodies. The pictures showing the cubs lying on their dead mother were circulated on social media triggering emotional responses to the incident.

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Dantewada ASP, RK Burman told the media that the police came to know about the incident through social media. The IED was said to have been planted by Maoists in the forests and it was triggered when the bear stepped on the IED. The sloth bear died on the spot while its cubs starved to death as their mother was dead.

According to police it was the first such incident wherein a wild animal being killed in an IED explosion in Bastar region, though the incidents in which cattle and pet dogs getting killed in IED blasts have taken place several times.

On Friday, two district reserve guard (DRG) personnel sustained injuries when an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by CPI (Maoists) exploded in Narayanpur district in the State. The incident took place near Kachapal village under Kokameta police station limits when the DRG and BSF personnel were carrying out search operations.