RAIPUR,INDIA: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai paid tribute to the soldiers and driver martyred in the IED blast on the Kutru-Bedre road in Bijapur district on Tuesday.

At a solemn ceremony held at Karli Police Line in Dantewada, he laid wreaths on their mortal remains and offered condolences to their families, assuring them of the state government's unwavering support.

Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Vijay Sharma, Forest Minister and Bastar in-charge Kedar Kashyap, Bastar MP Mahesh Kashyap, MLA Chaitram Atami, MLA Vikram Mandavi, former MP Deepak Baij, former MLA Devati Karma, and senior officials, including DGP Ashok Juneja, ADGP Vivekananda Sinha, and IG Bastar Range Sundarraj P., joined the Chief Minister in paying respects. Other dignitaries, including local public representatives and police officials, also offered floral tributes.

Chief Minister Sai, along with the Deputy Chief Minister and Forest Minister, personally carried the remains of martyred soldier Baman Sodhi, escorting him to his home village. The remains of other martyrs were sent to their respective villages for final rites.

Condemning the Naxalite attack, the Chief Minister described it as a cowardly assault on both the nation’s security forces and the ideals of democracy and peace.

“The sacrifice of our brave soldiers will not be in vain. The campaign to eradicate Naxalism will continue relentlessly,” he stated.

He reaffirmed the government's commitment to ending violence and terror in the Bastar division and reiterated his pledge to eradicate Naxalism in the state by March 2026.

The blast in the Kutru area claimed the lives of eight DRG personnel and one driver, leaving the state in mourning while strengthening its resolve to fight Naxal violence.