WARANGAL: The driver of a commercial vehicle was grievously injured after he accidentally stepped on a tiffin box lying on the road that had explosive materials planted by a Maoist group. The incident happened on Wednesday night at Venkatapuram mandal of Bhupalpalli district, which connects Bhadrachalam in Telangana with Chatttisgarh.
The driver, G Kartik whose face bore the brunt of the blast has been shifted to a private hospital in Hanamkonda for treatment.
According to sources, as part of the 16th People Liberation Guerilla Army’s (PLGA) week long programme to pay homage to their top leaders killed in recent police encounters from December 2 to 8, the Maoists had put up banners and posters across the area urging youngsters to join the PLGA to fight for the rights of poor.
According to police, Kartik along with his friend went to relieve themselves on Wednesday late night and while they reached a compound wall, Kartik accidentally stepped on the tiffin bomb and it went off injuring him seriously.
However, local people told media persons that Kartik was asked by the police to remove posters put up by the naxal group and while he was removing them he came across a tiffin box and tried to pick it up. "As soon as he touched the box, it went off injuring Kartik seriously on his face and other parts of the body," locals said.
The posters were put up by the Charla Shabari Area Committee of the outlawed CPI (Maoist) outfit.
The Venkatapur mandal that was in Khammam was recently merged with Bhupalpalli district during reorganisation of districts in Telangana.
Senior police officials of the districts have not yet commented on the incident.