A Chhattisgarh Armed Force (CAF) trooper was killed on Thursday when a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in Dantewada district, police said.
The incident occurred around 1 pm near Pahurnar village in the Geedam police station area when security forces were giving security to a bridge construction work, Inspector General of Police (Bastar range) Sundarraj P said.
Personnel belonging to the District Reserve Guard (DRG) and CAF launched an area domination drive from the Chhindnar police camp for the project on the Indravati river, he said.
"When the patrol team was on the other side of the river, Head Constable Laxmikant Dwivedi (CAF 22nd Battalion) inadvertently stepped over the IED, triggering a blast that left him critically injured," Sundarraj said.
The incident occurred near Pahurnar, some 400 km from Raipur. Dwivedi, from Rewa in Madhya Pradesh, succumbed to his injuries.
