NEW DELHI – Five District Reserve Guard (DRG) jawans were injured in anImprovised Explosive Device (IED) blast, suspected to be carried out byNaxals, in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district on Saturday, police said.

The incident comes 10 days after nine CRPF personnels were killed in ablast in the district on March 13.The blast took place around 3 pm in aforest near Sirsetti village under Fulbagdi police station limits when apolice DRG team was returning after an anti-Naxal operation, DeputyInspector General (DIG) of Police Sundarraj P told PTI. Fulbagdi is around500 km from state capital Raipur.

The DIG said after detonating the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), theNaxals opened fire on the DRG team, which led to a gun-battle.

However, the ultras fled after a brief exchange of fire, he said.”Assistantconstables Padam Muya, Nurum Dula, Sodhi Deva, Kartam Pandu and constableKichhe Naga were injured in the blast,” he said.Soon after gettinginformation about the incident, reinforcement was rushed to the spot andthe injured jawans were airlifted to Raipur for treatment, he said.

Earlier, nine Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed ina blast carried out by Naxals between Kistaram and Palodi villages?in Sukmaon March 13.