Chhattisgarh: Close shave for security personnel as Naxals trigger IED blast

Raipur, Aug 12: A group of security personnel had a narrow escape from a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by Naxals in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh today. No one was injured in the explosion, police said.

"The rebels blew the landmine in the forests under Basguda police station area when a joint team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Special Task Force (STF) and district force was returning after carrying out a search operation in the region," a senior police official said.

"The explosion occurred ahead of the patrolling team. No injuries or causalities were reported," he said, adding soon after the explosion, a combing operation was launched in the region to trace the attackers.

In another incident, a separate joint team of security personnel recovered two powerful IEDs from the under-construction Basaguda (Bijapur)- Jagargunda (Sukma) road.

While the security forces were patrolling the route that passes through forest areas, they spotted the IEDs, planted in the ground, between Sarkeguda and Tarrem, the police official said.

Security personnel often use this route during their operation in the area, he said, adding the explosives, weighing 10 kg each, were immediately destroyed.

PTI