Deadly landmine blast hits Indian police
At least 13 dead in suspected Maoist attack in east of Maharashtra state, media reports say.
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| Several policemen died in a landmine blast in January which was also triggered by the Maoists [EPA] |
Indian Maoists have killed 13 policemen in a landmine blast in the western state of Maharashtra, media reports citing officials say.
According to NDTV, a private television station, the landmine attack happened at around 12:30pm local time (7:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
The blast, which occurred in Gadhchiroli in the east of Maharashtra state is the latest attack in the rebels’ decades-long low-intensity war against local and national authorities in India.
An official said the policemen were travelling through a densely forested area when the rebels set off a land mine, blowing up the vehicle.
The official said another 15 policemen were wounded in the powerful blast.
At least 13 policemen were also killed in January 2012 in another landmine blast triggered by Maoist fighters in the eastern state of Jharkhand.
According to the police at the time, a group of 50 Maoists drew the police into an ambush.