NEW DELHI, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- At least two paramilitary troopers belonging to India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were wounded Thursday after a pressure improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Naxalites went off in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said.
The IED explosion took place in the forest area of Putkel village of Bijapur district, about 367 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.
"This morning, a blast took place in the forest area of Putkel under Basaguda police station limits wounding two CRPF personnel," a police official said. "The CRPF personnel, part of a joint contingent, were out on an area domination duty when the pressure IED planted by the Naxals exploded."
According to police, the wounded personnel were immediately removed from the hospital and undergoing treatment there.
Last week, eight policemen and a driver were killed after a vehicle they were traveling in was blown up by an IED blast triggered by Naxals in the district.
Currently, Naxals are active across the central and eastern parts of India.
India's former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh once termed the Naxalite movement as India's "greatest internal security challenge".
New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.
The insurgency reportedly has claimed hundreds of lives besides rendering thousands of poor inhabitants homeless. ■