The Maoists set off an Improvised Explosive Device or IED in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur, the police said.
Five security personnel and a driver were injured in a blast set off by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur today. The Maoists set off an Improvised Explosive Device or IED on a truck at around 9 am, the police said. Bijapur was among the 18 constituencies that voted in the first phase of the assembly elections in Chhattisgarh on Monday. No polling officials was nearby during the incident.
"Four Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, belonging to 414th battalion, a District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawan, and a civilian, who was driving the vehicle, received injuries in the improvised explosive device (IED) blast," said Sundarraj P, a senior police officer in charge of anti-Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh.
Reinforcement teams were sent to the site of the blast. All the injured were taken to a hospital in Bijapur and are out of danger. If required, they would be air-lifted to Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, 450 km away.
On Monday, two personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured in a gunfight between security forces and Maoists in Bijapur district. On Sunday, a gunfight took place between security forces and Maoists in the town. The body of a uniform-clad Maoist was recovered. Another Maoist was arrested. The exchange of fire had taken place in a forest when a team of the Special Task Force was out on an anti-Maoist operation.
Despite a boycott call by Maoists, Chhattisgarh recorded over 76 per cent turnout in the first phase of polling. The second phase will be held on November 20 and the votes will be counted on December 11.
(With inputs from PTI)