Two troopers of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) were injured after an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted by Maoists went off in insurgency-hit Bhanupratappur region of Kanker district of Bastar region on Monday, police informed.
Notably, the passenger train from Dallirajhara to Gudma under Dallirajhara-Rowghat project was also flagged off by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu via video conferencing the same day on Monday.
The much-awaited 95-km long Railway line stretch from Dallirajhara to Rowghat is of prime importance for steel production, as it will supply iron-ore to Bhilai Steel Plant (BSP) which currently receives iron ore from Dallirajhara mines.
According to the police, the incident occurred near Tekadhodaha village about 10 km from Bhanupratappur. The troopers were deployed for the safety of Railway track, Sub-Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Bhanupratappur, Maheshwar Nag informed.
The IED planted by insurgents a few meters away from Railway track was triggered while the troopers from SSB were patrolling on the Railway track, he said.
Constable Parmanand Maurya and Aryan Mandal were injured in the incident who were then rushed to a Community Health Centre nearby and their condition were reported out of danger, he informed.
According to the troopers, following the blast , Maoists had opened fire but prompt retaliation from SSB personnel forced the insurgents to run away, the SDOP further informed.