A villager was injured in blast allegedly triggered by Maoists near a Government school in the restive Kanker district, police said here on Saturday.
In separate incidents, three Naxals, including one carrying a reward of Rs1 lakh on his head was nabbed from Dantewada and Bijapur districts, police said here on Saturday.
The blast in which a villager was injured, took place at the entry point of the Government middle school Bhaisa under Rowghat police station limits of Kanker district.
“The incident happened around 8 am and 8.30 am while school was running and students were inside the school building in Bhaisa village,” Superintendent of Police (SP) Kanker, Ml Kotwani said.
Police had received information that Naxals had placed banner-poster in the government school. Immediately security personnel were dispatched to the spot, the SP said.
However, before the force could arrive at the spot, a man identified as Sonu Ram Dugga (35) tried to put away a suspected looking container with a stick which exploded and the man sustained serious injuries, SP Kotwani added.
Dugga was rushed to a nearby BSF hospital where he was administered first-aid and was then shifted to Raipur for better treatment.
“This incident has exposed Naxals, now they are not hesitant in playing with lives of children. This could have been a major incident that could have claimed lives of several children,” the SP remarked.
Meanwhile, in Dantewada a Jantana Sarkar Range Committee President Joga Markam (28) carrying a cash reward of Rs1 lakh on his head was arrested, Superintendent of Police (SP) Dantewada Kamlochan Kashyap said.
“Police was searching Markam for his involvement in over 10 serious Naxal incident including Mailawad landmine blast which had claimed lives of seven police personnel in the month of march this year,” the SP said.
Markam was arrested by a team of 111th battalion CRPF from Kuakonda region of the district during an anti-Naxal operation, the SP added.
Meanwhile, in a different action, two suspected Naxals were arrested during a search operation carried out by security forces in jungles near Bechapal village under Mirtur police station of Datnewada district.
They were identified as Somaru Oyam (25) and Mangu Oyam (47) who tried to run away after seeing police party, a senior police official said while adding that the duo was Jan Militia members.