NEW DELHI, April 9 (Xinhua) -- A lawmaker in India's central state of Chhattisgarh was killed by armed rebels Naxals on Tuesday, according to sources in the state government.

The deceased lawmaker, identified as Bheema Mandavi, belonged to the state's main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Besides, five security personnel accompanying the lawmaker also reportedly died in the attack carried out by the armed rebels with the help of an improvised explosive device (IED).

The attack took place in the Dantewada district when the BJP lawmaker was traveling in the area while campaigning for his party's candidates ahead of the parliamentary elections beginning on April 11, and ending on May 19.

The IED blast was reportedly followed by indiscriminate firing by the Naxal.

According to the latest media reports, a group of paramilitary troopers of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.