Naxals trigger IED blast, security personnel unhurt

RAIPUR: Security personnel today had a close shave as Maoists triggered a powerful IED blast in Chhattisgarh's insurgency-hit Bijapur district, police said.

"The explosion was so powerful that it left a five-and-half feet deep crater on Bijapur-Gangaloor road," Bijapur ASP Indira Kalyan Elesela told PTI.

However, no one was injured in the blast, he said. "The rebels exploded a landmine planted under a small bridge between Pamalwaya and Cherpal under Bijapur police station limits when a joint road opening party of Central Reserve Police Force and district police was conducting its task this afternoon," he said.

When the security forces crossed Pamalwaya covering a distance of about 5 kms from Bijapur, the blast occurred at around 500 meters ahead of the police team after which around five rebels opened fire on them, Elesela said.

When the jawans hit back, the ultras escaped from the spot, he said.

During a search, a 200-metre wire trough with which the detonator was connected to the explosive was recovered from the spot, he said.

Reinforcement was rushed to the spot and a manhunt has been launched in the region to nab the attackers, he added.