Poonam Singh

Raipur: An Assistant Commandant of CRPF's CoBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) was killed and seven others were injured in an IED blast triggered by by naxals near area of Sukma district on Saturday night

The deceased has been identified as Assistant Commandant Nitin Bhalerao, of CoBRA 206 battalion of CRPF.

The Improvised Explosive Device went off in the forest near Tadmetla village when a team of security forces was out on an anti-naxal operation, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.

No exchange of fire took place at the spot, which falls under the Chintagufa police station limits and is over 450 km from the state capital Raipur, the official said.

Eight commandos of the CRPF's elite unit were injured and later airlifted to a hospital in Raipur where Assistant Commandant Nitin P Bhalerao died during treatment, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.

The deceased, belonging to CoBRA's 206th battalion, was a resident of Maharashtra's Nashik district, he said.

The seven other injured personnel were undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Raipur, he said.

"Initially, we had information that around five personnel suffered injuries, but later three more were found injured," the official said.

(With PTI Inputs)

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