NEW DELHI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- At least five people including a paramilitary trooper were killed and two others wounded Thursday after Naxals triggered an improvised explosive device (IED) blast targeting a bus carrying them in central Indian state of Chattisgarh, police said.

The mangled remains of the bus. (Photo: The India Express)

The vehicle was blown up at Bacheli in Dantewada, about 383 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

"This afternoon, an IED blast triggered by Naxals blew the bus carrying paramilitary Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel," a police official said. "Five people including a CISF person were killed and two CISF personnel injured in the blast."

The deceased civilians include driver, conductor and cleaner of the bus.

Reports said the bus was used by CISF personnel deployed for election duty in the area.

According to officials, the CISF men were reportedly returning to their camp after buying vegetables from the market.

Television images showed the heavily damaged bus lying on the road upside down due to the impact of blast.

This is the second Naxalite attack in the area in recent days.

Last week two police personnel and a cameraman of state-run broadcaster Doordarshan were killed in an attack at Nilawaya village in the district.

Local elections are scheduled to be held in Chhattisgarh next week in two phases on November 12 and November 20.

Following the attack, reinforcements of police and paramilitary were rushed to the area.

Naxalites are active in more than a third of India's 600-odd districts across central and eastern India.

New Delhi has deployed several companies of its paramilitary forces to take on Naxals in their strongholds.

The insurgency reportedly has claimed more than 6,000 lives and rendered thousands of poor inhabitants homeless.