2 jawans killed in landmine blast near Odisha border

Malkangiri: At least two jawans of District Reserve Guard were killed and five others sustained critical injuries in a serial Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blasts reportedly triggered by Maoists near Bijapur-Mahadevpur in Chhattisgarh bordering on Odisha’s Malkangiri district on Monday.

The incident occurred when a bus carrying 30 jawans for patrolling was blown up.

The intensity of the blast was so high that the front portion of the bus was completely damaged. Sources said the jawans sitting on the front were most affected in the explosion.

According to sources, the Maoists were able to target the jawans as it is suspected that Standard Operative Procedure (SOP) was not followed and no road clearing party had accompanied the jawans.

Security forces have been dispatched to the spot and combing operations have been intensified as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is slated to visit Bijapur (Chhattisgarh) on Saturday.