Bhopal: A jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed and four others were injured when their patrolling vehicle hit a tree in Naxalite-affected Balaghat district of Madhya Pradesh on Sunday, October 13 police said.

Tarkeshwar (22), a native of Dhamtari in neighbouring Chhattisgarh, was killed on the spot, and four others sustained injuries, Balaghat Superintendent of Police Nagendra Singh told PTI.

The injured, including inspector Umesh (30), assistant sub-inspectors Yadunandan Paswan (57), Birju Das (44), and jawan Rakesh Yadav (30), is undergoing treatment at a hospital in Gondia district in neighbouring Maharashtra, he said.

Singh said the victims belonging to the 7th D Company 4 of the CRPF were out on a patrol task when their SUV rammed into a tree near Kudan village, about 100 km from the district headquarters.

The driver of the hired private vehicle fled the scene after the accident, he said.