5 BSF jawans, civilian injured in blast by Maoists in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur

Maoists carried out two back to back attacks on Wednesday injuring four Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers, a civilian and one District Reserve Guard, police said.

All the injured officials and civilians were taken to a hospital in Bijapur and are reportedly out of danger. (Image: AFP/ Representational)

Chhattisgarh Assembly Election 2018: Days after the first phase of Assembly elections took place in Chhattisgarh, Maoists carried out two back to back attacks on Wednesday injuring four Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers, a civilian and one District Reserve Guard, police said. According to report by news agency IANS, the Left wing extremists who had asked people to boycott the ongoing polls in the state carried out the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast aimed at a vehicle carrying the troopers returning from poll duty. The second incident was reported after a gunfight broke out during a search operation not far from the IED blast spot. The 85 Battalion of the CRPF troopers were attacked by the insurgents. In its latest update, a security force official said that firing is still on in the area. Both attacks took place simultaneously at 9.15 am in the Mahadev Ghat area, a police officer said. Reinforcement teams were immediately rushed to the site of blast. All the injured officials and civilians were taken to a hospital in Bijapur and are reportedly out of danger. Depending upon the situation, the injured would be air-lifted to Chhattisgarh's capital Raipur, 450 km away. The truck attacked was a civilian store vehicle and the driver was among those injured. It was the ninth Maoist attack in 19 days in the poll-bound state where the final phase of voting to 72 seats is scheduled on November 20. On the first phase of polling that took place on November 12, two personnel of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) were injured in a gunfight between security forces and Maoists in Bijapur district. Despite a boycott call by Naxals, Chhattisgarh recorded over 76 per cent turnout in the first phase of polling. The second phase will be held on November 20 and the votes will be counted on December 11.