• By Abhirupa Kundu
  • Tue, 07 Nov 2023 08:16 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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As the first phase of voting for the Chhattisgarh Assembly Elections got underway, a commando of CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) was injured on Tuesday in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by Naxalites in Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, the police said. The incident took place when a joint team of the CRPF and the 206th battalion of its special operation unit were out on an area domination operation from Tondamarka camp towards Elmagunda village to ensure security during polls, a senior police official said.

The injured CoBRA official, Inspector Shrikant inadvertently stepped over the IED, planted by Naxalites during patrolling, leading to the explosion and causing him wounds, the official said. The area falls under the Konta assembly segment, which is among the 20 constituencies where voting is being held on Tuesday in the first phase of the two-phase elections for the 90-member state assembly.

Earlier on Monday, two polling personnel and a Border Security Force (BSF) jawan were injured in an IED blast triggered by Naxalites in the state's Kanker district, the police said. 

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The incident occurred at around 4 pm when four polling parties escorted by security personnel were heading to their respective polling stations under Chhotebethiya police station limits, a police official said.

A joint team of BSF and district police had set out from Marbeda camp escorting the polling teams to Rengaghati Rengagondi polling station, he said. Near Rengagondi, a pressure IED exploded, leaving two polling personnel and BSF constable Chandraparakash Seval injured, he said.
 
The injured were rushed to Chhotebethiya hospital for treatment where their condition was said to be out of danger. 
 
A search operation in the area is underway.