IED Blasts in Bijapur: A Setback for Insurgent Organizations

• The IED blasts in Bijapur indicate a flailing insurgency, with the Communist Party of India (Maoist) rarely speaking of peace or ending violent conflict.

• The deaths of eight security personnel and a civilian driver in the blast suggest the Maoists’ potency in inflicting such acts.

• The incident is a setback to anti-Maoist operations, which have seen significant deaths of Maoist cadres and tribal people.

• The heavy use of explosives and camouflaged nature of the planted IEDs suggest the Maoists had planned the attack.

• The incident could lead to intensified security operations to identify the culprits, potentially targeting innocent civilians.

• The government should not resort to retaliation and target civilians, as this would play into Maoist propaganda about state repression.

• While military means are tempting, civil society actors should be used to work out a ceasefire agreement to end the conflict.