BSF Jawan From Odisha On Poll Duty In Chhattisgarh Martyred In IED Blast

Bhubaneswar: A Border Security Force (BSF) constable from Odisha, Prakash Chandra Sial, who was injured in an IED blast in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, succumbed on Tuesday evening.

Sial (36) hailed from Gopalpur village under Bahanaga block in Balasore district. He was hit by a bomb planted by Maoists while on his way to a polling booth.

According to reports, the blast took place near Rengagondi village, bordering Malkangiri district, around 4 pm on Monday, when four polling parties escorted by security personnel were heading to their respective polling stations for Tuesday’s first phase of Assembly elections, a police officer said.

The BSF constable and the two polling team members suffered injuries in the blast. The jawan was immediately airlifted Narayana Hospital in Raipur for better treatment, however, he died on Tuesday. The martyred soldier was posted in the 94th battalion of BSF.

Sources further said that Sial joined BSF in 2004 and is survived by his wife and two sons.