Chhattisgarh: Ahead of bypoll, BSF jawan injured in IED blast

Raipur, Sep 12: A BSF jawan was on Friday injured in an IED blast triggered by naxals when security personnel were escorting a polling party for bye-elections in Antagarh assembly constituency in Chhattisgarh’'s Kanker district.

The naxal-infested seat will go to polls tomorrow. The blast occurred in restive Nagaldand forests under Bande police station limits, Kanker Superintendent of Police R N Dash told PTI.

A squad of paramilitary forces was escorting a polling party from Bande to Bethiya polling station. When they reached near Nagaldand, rebels triggered an explosion leaving a constable Chhitar Mal (37) of 72 battalion injured, the SP said.

A minor exchange of fire took place at the spot following the blast. However, naxals soon fled into the core forests, he added. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot soon after the incident.

After administering first aid at a local health centre, the injured jawan was shifted to Kanker for further treatment, the SP said.

Combing operations have been launched in the region to nab the attackers, he added. Located around 250 kms away from state capital Raipur, Antagarh seat under North Bastar division has been vacant since the resignation of sitting BJP MLA Vikram Usendi after he won the recent Lok Sabha polls from Kanker seat.

PTI