Raipur, Jan. 10: Chhattisgarh home minister Ramvichar Netam and two senior state officials had a narrow escape today when a landmine planted near a helipad in a Dantewada village went off seconds before the chopper carrying them touched down.

The incident took place in Takilod village, almost 500 km from here, around 12 noon. Chief secretary R.P. Bagai and director-general of police O.P. Rathor were also travelling in the helicopter.

No damage was caused to the aircraft but five jawans on duty near the helipad were injured in the blast.

Sources said the condition of one jawan was critical and he had to be shifted to the Dantewada district headquarters using the same helicopter.

The high-profile team was in Takilod to attend a rally of Salwa Judum ? an anti-rebel campaign launched by the villagers. The programme was not affected by the blast.

Senior police officers said Naxalites had planted more than a dozen mines in the area to disrupt the Salwa Judum gathering, including a few near the helipad. The road on which the minister?s motorcade was scheduled to travel was also targeted.

While sanitising the area, security personnel defused three mines near the helipad.

When the helicopter carrying the home minister was about to land, one of the mines went off. The explosion was so powerful that a thick layer of dust and smoke covered the state-owned aircraft, making it impossible to spot it for a few minutes.

A senior officer said the Naxalites had planted the mine about 50 metres from the helipad.

?The rebels had made the necessary arrangements to spoil the rally,? Netam told The Telegraph after returning to the state capital.

?But by successfully organising the rally, the people of Bastar foiled their attempt,? he added.