Five jawans injured in landmine blast by Naxals in Chhattisgarh

RAIPUR: Five security personnel were today critically injured in a landmine blast triggered by Naxals in the Sukma district of Chhattisgarh, police said.

The incident took place this morning in the forest near Bodhrajpadar village under Bhejji police station limits, Sukma Additional Superintendent of Police Neeraj Chandrakar said.

A joint squad of Central Reserve Police Force, its specialised unit Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) and district police was engaged in an anti-Naxal operation in the region, which is around 500 km away from the state capital Raipur, for the past few days.

Maoists triggered a landmine blast and opened fire on the security personnel, Chandrakar said.

Five jawans were critically injured, he added. Maoists retreated as the security personnel retaliated and began to encircle them. Two helicopters have been sent to retrieve the injured jawans.

Further details are awaited.