A trooper of Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) died after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Maoists went off near an under construction culvert under the limits of Kistaram police station of violence-hit Sukma district here on Thursday.
The incident occurred at Dharampenta village under Kistaram Police station limits about 150 kms from district headquarters Sukma, Sukma Superintendent of Police (SP) D Shravan said. The blast occurred between 12.30 to 1.00 pm when the jawan was deployed in the security of the culvert near Pedagudam, he added.
The blast was so powerful that Dinesh Baghel of CAF died on the spot, Shravan said. Soon after the news of explosion was received additional troops were dispatched to carry out rescue operations, police said. Notably, a trooper of District Reserve Group (DRG) was killed while another was critically injured following an encounter with Maoists in a forested patch of insurgency-hit Dantewada district on Wednesday.