2 CRPF personnel injured in IED blast set off by Naxals

RAIPUR: Two CRPF personnel, including an assistant sub-inspector, were today injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Sukma district.

The explosion took place in Temelwada forests under Chintagufa Police Station limits while a ROP (Road Opening Party) of Central Reserve Police Force's 223rd battalion was carrying out its route clearing task on Dornapal-Chintagufa axis, a senior police official told PTI.

As the CRPF personnel were cordoning off forests, 3 km away from Temelwada, the Naxals detonated an improvised explosive device (IED) blast at around 11 AM, leaving ASI Shiv Prasad and constable Pradeep injured, he said.

Subsequently, firing also broke out between the security personnel and the rebels which lasted for a short period following which Naxals fled into the forest, he said.

Soon after the incident, reinforcement was rushed to the spot and efforts were on to retrieve the injured personnel, he said.

"The condition of constable Pradeep was stated to be critical," he said.

A combing operation has been launched in the region to nab the attackers, he added.