Kohima, Feb. 27: A landmine blast in Chhattisgarh yesterday killed another Naga jawan from the same India Reserve Battalion (IRB) that lost nine men while patrolling the state?s Naxalite-infested tribal belt earlier this month.

The latest incident occurred 11 km from the Naga battalion?s camp in Barsur. Reports from the area said a team of IRB and CRPF personnel were looking for landmines when one exploded.

Of the two personnel injured in the blast, one died after being taken to Raipur for medical attention.

A martyrdom ceremony in the slain jawan?s honour concluded at 6 pm today. His body will be brought to Dimapur in a day or two, sources said.

Nagaland leader of the Opposition I. Imkong and home minister Thenucho had visited Barsur last week to boost the morale of the Naga jawans deployed in the area.

Nine jawans were killed in a landmine blast at Bijapur, in Dantewada district, on February 6. A volcano of emotions burst forth during a funeral service for the nine jawans at Chumukedima, leading to a campaign for the withdrawal of all Naga IRB personnel from Chhattisgarh.

?Paisa nalage (we do not want the money), we want them alive, withdraw the battalion immediately,? about 500 women cried in unison.

Caught by surprise, chief minister Neiphiu Rio left the venue immediately. In a statement the next day, he said the government could only request Delhi to deploy the unit in a ?less dangerous area?.

Like all IRBs, the three units in Nagaland were raised with central funding on the condition that the Union home ministry could deploy these anywhere in times of need. In fact, Chhattisgarh chief minister Raman Singh has urged Nagaland to give his state another Naga battalion.

The ?Naga force?, as the IRB personnel are fondly addressed in Chhattisgarh, has busted several Naxalite hideouts and killed over 50 rebels since July 2005, sources said.

?We know what kind of situation we are dealing with and every morning when we go out, we are ready to face anything,? Iherie Ndang, deputy commandant of the Naga battalion, had told The Telegraph at Barsur recently.

The only complaint of the jawans is the condition of their barracks.