New Delhi: A landmine blast triggered by Maoists in the Kanker district of Chattisgarh left one police personnel dead and another jawan critically injured on Wednesday.

Interestingly, the attack occurred on the first day of the Peoples' Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA) week. The Communist Party if India (Maoist) had urged all their comrades to observe the week. The ultra outfit is observing the PLGA week from today till December 8 to commemorate their leaders were killed during different operations against security forces.

The Maoist triggered the blast when the joint force was cordoning a forest area in Markanar village 300 kms from north Bastar.

Immediate reinforcement was rushed to the spot. Despite two personnel bejng airlifted and shifted to Raipur for treatment, assistant constable Baijuram Potai succumbed to his injuries. Reportedly, Santram Netam is also critical.

Security was beefed up in the area. Joint forces have initiated a combing operation to nab the rebels.

The extremist outfit had chalked out a plan to observe the week and bolster their organisational strength. Meetings and discussions were held to review their operational prowess. They also carried out rallies to spread anti-government propaganda across the Bastar district. Notably, the outfit was also on a recruitment drive to increase the number of cadres.

Intelligence reports suggested that the Maoists are contemplating on carrying out massive scale subversive activities and attack security forces.

The outlawed outfit had ambushed a team of Special Task Force (STF), killing one personnel in Darbha region in tribal Bastar district of Chhattisgarh in August this year.

Bastar is considered as a Maoist bastion and this attack testifies the claim.

The Communist Party of India (Maoist) had earlier carried out a deadly attack killing frontline Congress leaders in 2013.

Though the activities of the outfit had considerably toned down but the current attack clearly reveals their activeness in the region.

(With inputs from agencies)