RAIPUR: Two personnel of Border Security Forces (BSF) were killed in a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by the outlawed CPI (Maoist) at Chote Bethiya forested route in strife-torn Kanker district, about 200 km south of Raipur on Monday.
"Around eight different teams from across Kanker district were out on anti-Maoist operations. The team that was targeted were moving on 13 motor-bikes. The Naxals IED hit the fourth bike moving along the row. Both the constables on the ill-fated bikes sustained serious injuries and died on the spot. The Maoists also resorted to firing on the troopers but was swiftly retaliated by the forces", Kanker superintendent of police K L Dhruv told the New Indian Express.
The deceased jawans Santosh Laxman and Nityanand Nayak belonged to 121st battalion of BSF based at Bande in Kanker district.
"Both hailed from Karnataka state. Additional forces have been pressed into action and extensive search operation will continue in the region", the SP said. There is however no report of any security personnel injured. The chief minister Raman Singh has condemned the incident.
"It's a dastardly act of Naxals and shows signs of their frustration over the expeditious development carried out in the area", he said.
Kanker remains one of the worst affected districts in the conflict zone of Bastar and being cited as an epicentre of left-wing extremists in south Chhattisgarh.