CRPF jawan killed in landmine blast in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: A CRPF jawan was killed in a landmine blast in Chhattisgarh's naxal-inflected Bijapur district today, police said.

R Govasdhan Reddy, belonging to E company of 222 battalion of CRPF, was killed after he stepped on a pressure bomb, planted underneath the land by naxals in the interior forests of Sarkeguda village under Basguda police station limits, DIG (Intelligence) Dipanshu Kabra, told PTI.

The officer said a team of CRPF jawans was sent for patrolling in the forest area today and when they reached near Sarkeguda village, Reddy stepped up on the bomb, triggering an explosion.

Soon after getting the information, additional police force was rushed to the spot and Reddy was rescued. He was admitted to Bijapur district hospital, where scummed to injuries during treatment, Kabra said.

Security forces have been alerted in the region and efforts are on to nab the ultras responsible for the blast, he added.