Naxals blow up vehicle in Chhattisgarh, jawan killed

Maoist militants on Monday blew off a mine protected vehicle with the help of an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) killing a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel and injuring few others in the naxal hotbed of Dantewada district in Chhattisgarh.

The blast that injured about four CRPF and one state police personnel occurred when a 80-personnel strong contingent of security forces were out on patrol at a place under Aranpur police station of the district.

A helicopter was immediately pressed into service to evacuate the injured troopers and they were later brought to Dantewada.

The mine protected vehicle was totally damaged in the explosion which is suspected to have been carried out by triggering an Improvised Explosive Device kept under the road on which the vehicle rolled over, a senior official said. Initial reports said that two injured troopers are in critical condition. Senior security officials along with reinforcements have rushed to the area, the official said.