Raipur, May 24 (IANS): A CRPF trooper was killed and another injured when Maoists triggered a powerful blast when they targeted security personnel in a forested part of Chhattisgarh's Sukma district, officials said.

Sub-Inspector Rajesh Kumar Bind was killed when the improvised explosive device (IED) exploded around 7.45 a.m. between Pushwada and Tamilwada when the 206 Cobra Battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force was on a routine operation.

Constable Manik Pinri was injured, CRPF Deputy Inspector General M. Dinakaran told IANS.

"The mortal remains of Rajesh Kumar were taken to the Ambedkar Hopital in Raipur for post-mortem while Pinri was admitted to Balaji Hospital," he said.

The CRPF's 74 Battalion later recovered an IED from the site.

In a similar IED blast on March 13 also in Sukma, nine CRPF personnel were killed and nearly 10 seriously injured when Maoists blew up a vehicle carrying troopers of the 212 Battalion of the CRPF.

Two Chhattisgarh policemen were killed and six others injured in a gun battle with the Maoists at Bhejji in Sukma on February 18.