Chhattisgarh: Naxals strike a day before polls, BSF jawan killed in IED blast

A Border Security Force (BSF) jawan was killed in an IED blast in Kanker's Koyali beda area in Chhattisgarh on Sunday, a day before the state goes to Assembly polls. A set of six IEDs were planted in a series and were set off in one go between village Gome and Gattakal in the area. A senior police officer said a BSF team came under attack when they were patrolling the area. BSF personnel SI Mahender Singh was injured when an improvised explosive device or IED exploded, he later succumbed to his injuries.

#Chhattisgarh: BSF personnel SI Mahender Singh who was injured in IED blast in Kanker's Koyali beda today, has succumbed to injuries.

— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2018

Another fierce encounter broke out between the security forces and Maoists in Bijapur on Sunday morning. One Maoist was killed and another one apprehended, according to news agency ANI. Arms and ammunition have also been recovered. 

Chhattisgarh: Encounter underway in Bijapur between security forces and Maoists. One Maoist dead, one apprehended. Arms and ammunition recovered. Operation continues

— ANI (@ANI) November 11, 2018

 

Security has been heightened in seven districts of Bastar division and Rajnandgaon district which go to polls in the first phase on Monday.

Around one lakh security personnel have been deployed to ensure smooth conduct of elections. The Naxals have asked voters to boycott the polls.

The 90-member Chhattisgarh Assembly will go to polls in two phases -- on November 12 and 20 -- and the results will be announced on December 11.

The first phase of polls will cover 18 constituencies of eight Naxal-affected districts that include Bastar, Kanker, Sukma, Bijapur, Dantewada, Narayanpur, Kondagaon and Rajnandgaon.