Chhatisgarh, India: Five security personnel, including a CRPF inspector, were reportedly injured on Friday (Nov. 21) in a pressure bomb blast by Naxals in Maoist-hit Bijapur district in Chhattisgarh, police said.
Bijapur Additional Superintendent of Police Indira Kalyan Elesela says the incident occurred when a joint contingent of 168 battalion of Central Reserve Police Force and district force was carrying out an ‘anti-Naxal operation’ in Basaguda police station limits this evening.
ASP further said: “During the operation, security personnel accidentally came in contact with a pressure bomb planted by the Maoists that exploded injuring CRPF Inspector Gurvinder Singh and two state police jawans Irpa Ganesh and Kadti Chandru”.
The wounded personnel were airlifted to the Jagdalpur for medical assistance. According to reports the Maoists also opened fire at a Chopper in which the injured Indian security personnel were being airlifted.
A flight gunner reportedly sustained severe bullet injuries when Maoists opened fire on the IAF helicopter Mi-17 which was trying to evacuate five injured CRPF personnel in the densely forested Chintagufa region.
Indian security forces are engaged in an ‘armed operation’ against ultras in areas under Naxal control.