The blast occurred in a forested area under Chhotebethiya police station limits near the Narayanpur district border, where a DRG team was carrying an operation to trace and defuse IEDs allegedly planted earlier by Naxalites.

According to police, the team detected an IED. However it went off while they were in the process of defusing it, injuring four jawans.

Inspector Sukhram Vatti, constable Krishna Komra and constable Sanjay Gadhpale died on the spot, officials said. Injured constable Parmanand Komra is undergoing treatment.

Inspector general of police, Bastar range, Sundarraj Pattilingam said based on intelligence and information from surrendered Maoist cadres, security forces recovered and neutralised hundreds of IEDs planted by Naxalites across the seven districts of the Bastar Range, including Kanker, over the past few months.

“However, in today’s unfortunate incident, the IED accidentally exploded while the Kanker district police team was trying to defuse it, resulting in the death of three personnel and serious injuries to one,” he said.

The incident is the first blast linked to Naxalite activity in the state since March 31, when authorities declared the country free from armed Maoists.

Source: Hindustan Times