A tragic incident unfolded in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district on Monday, June 9, 2025, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast claimed the life of Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Akash Rao Giripunje and left two other police officers severely injured. The attack, suspected to be the work of Maoist insurgents, occurred near Dondra village along the Konta–Errabore road, a known hotbed of Naxal activity.

ASP Giripunje and his team were conducting a foot patrol as part of a proactive security operation in anticipation of a "Bharat Bandh" (nationwide strike) called by the CPI (Maoist) on June 10. The patrol aimed to prevent any potential disruptions by Maoist rebels in the sensitive region. While on patrol, a pressure-activated IED detonated, causing critical injuries to ASP Giripunje and causing injuries to other officers and security personnel.

Following the blast, immediate assistance was deployed to the site, and the injured officers were transported to Konta Hospital for urgent medical care. ASP Giripunje's condition was reported to be extremely critical, prompting efforts to airlift him to a higher-level medical facility for advanced treatment. Despite these efforts, he succumbed to his injuries shortly after the incident. The other injured personnel are currently receiving treatment, and officials have stated that they are out of immediate danger.

The incident has sparked condemnation from senior police officials, who have reiterated the force's commitment to counter-insurgency operations in the Bastar region. Security forces in the area have been placed on high alert, and intensified patrolling and surveillance measures are in progress to prevent further incidents. This attack underscores the persistent threat posed by Maoist insurgents in the region and raises concerns about the safety and security of security personnel operating in conflict-prone areas.

Akash Rao Giripunje hailed from Raipur and had his early education in the city. News of his death has cast a pall of gloom over the Chhattisgarh Police Department, with colleagues mourning the loss of a dedicated and courageous officer.

The attack is seen by some as a sign of the Maoists' frustration after recent setbacks, including the elimination of several high-ranking leaders in anti-Naxal operations. Nambala Keshava Rao alias Basavaraju, the general secretary of the banned CPI (Maoist), was killed in Chhattisgarh's Abhujmad in May.