At least seven policemen were killed and six others injured in a landmine blast allegedly triggered by Maoists in Jharkhand's Palamu district on Wednesday.
The landmine blew up at around 5:30 pm in Chhaterpur village when a police team were on their way to Hussainabad in a mini bus after patrolling the Kala Pahar region. The injured were shifted to a hospital in Daltonganj.
"Seven police personnel including the police driver, chowkidar, one head constable and four constables were killed and six injured when an IED triggered by the Maoists blew up their vehicle," Hindustan Times quoted inspector general (Operation) MS Bhatia as saying.
"All the injured police personnel have been rescued from the spot and admitted to a Daltonganj hospital. An MI- 17 helicopter has been sent to Daltonganj to bring them to Ranchi for better treatment," Bhatia said.
Hussainabad police station officer-in-charge Rajesh Prasad Rajak, who led the police team, escaped the blast.
A combing operation was launched after the blast, which was followed by an encounter, Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhat Ranjan said. "The encounter has reportedly stopped. But a massive combing operation has been launched," The Indian Express had reported.
