A Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) jawan was injured on Monday in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast triggered by suspected Naxals in Chhattisgarh's Kanker district, police said.
The blast occurred at police station area when the security forces were patrolling to provide security to the track-laying work in progress as part of the Dallirajhra-Rowghat rail project, Additional Superintendent of Police Jaiprakash Badhai told reporters.
Kanker is one of the seven districts of mineral-rich Bastar region where Naxals have established their monopoly in forested areas and they often target para-military troopers and state police when they provide security cover to infrastructure development activities.
A team of SSB's 33rd battalion had been doing the patrolling from its camp at Parrebeda village to provide security to the the track laying works, he stated.
Around 500 meters away from the camp, Naxals triggered the explosion leaving a jawan injured.
"Constable Kailash Dhare sustained injuries in the blast," the ASP said adding he has been admitted to a local hospital in Antagarh from where he will be airlifted to Bhilai (in Durg district) for further treatment. Combing operation has been launched in the region to nab the attackers.
The construction of the Dallirajhara-Rowghat-Jagdalpur broad-gauge railway project, covering a length of 235 kms, is underway.