New Delhi: As many as four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans lost their lives after a naxal attack in Bijapur district of the poll-bound Chhattisgarh after Maoists blew up their anti-landmine vehicle. Two other CRPF soldiers are said to be critically injured in the attack and have been rushed to the nearby hospital for medical treatment. "The incident occurred around 4pm near Murdanda camp of the CRPF under Awapalli police station, when its 168th battalion was out on area domination operation," news agency PTI quoted Bijapur Superintendent of Police Mohit Garg as saying. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot immediately and the injured personnel were being evacuated, the official said, adding they were retrieving the bodies from the site.

When the mine-protected-vehicle (MPV) carrying six personnel was around one km away from the camp, ultras triggered a powerful land mine blast, Garg said. "Four paramilitary personnel were killed and two others were injured in the blast," he said. Reinforcement was rushed to the spot immediately and the injured personnel were being evacuated, the official said, adding they were retrieving the bodies from the site.

The massive attack by naxals took place weeks ahead of the much crucial Assembly elections in Bijapur and other Moaist-affected regions of Chhattisgarh. The state is scheduled to go for polls in two phases on November 12 and November 20. On October 26, Chief Minister Raman Singh launched the ruling BJP's campaign for the first phase of polls on November 12 in neighbouring Sukma district.

The first phase of election will cover 18 constituencies in eight Naxal-affected districts – Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon. Naxals had recently put up posters in parts of Bastar region calling for boycott of the polls.