Three jawans of Jharkhand Jaguar were killed and two others seriously injured in an IED blast triggered by the outlawed naxal outfit CPI-Maoist under Toklo thana area in West Singhbhum district bordering Khunti district about 160 kms away from here on Thursday morning.

The injured have been air-lifted to Ranchi for treatment.

Among those killed, two were identified as Haridwar Shah and Kiran Suri, both constables belonging to Jharkhand Jaguar Assault Group-11.

Condition of one of the injured is said to be extremely critical.

The IED blast took place while the police and jawans of Jharkhand Jaguar Assault Group were carrying out an anti-insurgency operation at Lanji jungle under Toklo thana area which falls in the Chakradharpur subdivision of the district at about 8.30 am.

Hemant Soren pacifies kin of the deceased soldiers at Jharkhand Jaguar headquarters. Manob Chowdhary

Soon after the blast took place, an encounter between the police and naxals began which is still continuing.

Deputy inspector general ( DIG), Kolhan, Rajiv Ranjan Singh confirmed about the IED blast in the West Singhbhum district.

"The IED blast has taken place at Lanji jungle during an anti-insurgency operation there by the police and Jharkhand Jaguar. There some casualties, " said the DIG, Kolhan while talking to The Telegraph Online, adding that an encounter is on at the scene of the blast.

It may be mentioned here that the CPI-Maoist's squads of Anal and Maharaj Pramanik are active in the Toklo thana area, bordering West Singhbhum, Khunti and adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawn district.

An encounter between the naxals and CRPF had taken place at the same Lanji jungle in February.