Chhattisgarh Elections: CRPF Jawan On Poll Duty Injured In IED Blast In Sukma

Chhattisgarh Election 2023: A CRPF jawan got injured in an IED blast in the Sukma district which was triggered by Naxals, said SP. The soldier was deployed on election duty.

Chhattisgarh Elections: A CRPF jawan of CoBRA Battalion, who was deployed on election duty, was injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the Tondamarka area of Sukma district in Chhattisgarh, reported ANI citing SP Kiran Chavan. This comes soon after voting began for 20 seats in Chhattisgarh in phase-1. Apart from Chhatisgarh, voting is underway for all 40 seats of the Mizoram assembly.

The explosion took place when a joint team of CRPF and Commando Battalions for Resolute Action (CoBRA) 206th battalion was out on an area domination operation to ensure security during polls from Tondamarka camp towards Elmagunda village, a senior police official said, as quoted by PTI. 

The official added that Inspector Shrikant of CoBRA 206th battalion inadvertently stepped over the IED during patrolling, which was planted by Naxalites, leading to the explosion. The area falls under the Konta assembly segment, which is among the 20 constituencies where polling is being held on Tuesday in the first phase of the two-phase Chhattisgarh elections.

Meanwhile, according to ANI, Naxals fired at DRG personnel deployed for the outer cordon around 2 kilometres away from Banda polling station early this morning. Sukma police said that the security forces retaliated and the firing from the Naxals' side stopped after 10 minutes. Police said all the jawans are safe and voting is underway.

On the other hand, voting is underway across polling booths in 20 constituencies. Congress candidate from Kondagaon assembly seat Mohan Markam cast his vote and said his party would be successful in forming the government in the state again.

"There is no difficulty. People are enthusiastic and we believe that we will be successful in forming the government again based on the work that our government has done in the last 5 years," he said.

"I am confident that I will win for the third time from Kondagaon. BJP cannot compete with Congress in Chhattisgarh, that is why they are using ED...." he added.

Congress candidate from Bastar, Lakheshwar Baghel, said voters are aware and the voter turnout is likely to be more than 80 per cent this time.