Two personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force’s jungle warfare unit CoBRA were killed after Naxalites blew up a truck with an improvised explosive device (IED) in Chhattisgah’s Sukma district, police said.


The incident took place around 3 pm on Sunday near Timmapuram village between Silger and Tekalgudem camps of security forces, over 400 km from the state capital Raipur, PTI reported.


An advance party of the 201st unit of Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) had launched patrolling from Silger camp under Jagargunda police station limits as a part of its Road Opening Party duty towards Tekalgudem, officials said.


The security personnel were on motorcycles while their luggage and rations were being ferried in the ill-fated truck. The paramilitary personnel were in a truck and on motorcycles.


Naxalites triggered an IED blast targeting the truck that claimed the lives of constable Shailendra (29) and the vehicle driver Vishnu R (35), as per the report.


After being alerted about the blast, more forces were rushed to the spot and the bodies were being evacuated from the forest. A search operation is underway in the area.


Expressing grief over the incident, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said in a message on X that the martyrdom of jawans will not go in vain.


"Received the sad news of the demise of 2 CoBRA soldiers in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in Sukma district. I pray to God to rest the departed soul in peace and to give strength to their families," he said.


"Naxals are frustrated with the ongoing anti-naxalite operation in Bastar region and have been committing such cowardly acts out of frustration. The martyrdom of the soldiers will not go in vain. We will not sit quiet until Naxalism is eliminated," Sai asserted. 


Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan expressed condolences over the demise of CRPF soldier R Vishnu who was killed during the blast.


In his condolence message, Vijayan said he was sharing the grief of the deceased soldier's family members. VD Satheesan, in a Facebook post, paid his respects to the departed soldier and said his sacrifice to the country would be remembered forever.  


BJP leader and former union minister V Muraleedharan said steps would be taken to bring the mortal remains of Vishnu to his village at the earliest.