Nine cops killed in Chhattisgarh blasts

In a major strike, Maoists on Monday killed nine policemen by triggering a series of landmine blasts in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district during an anti-Naxal operation, police said.

The incident occurred when a police party from the Mardapal police station was on an anti-naxal operation. When the police team reached Kudur, about 22 km from Mardapal, the Maoists set off as many as 24 landmine blasts, a senior police officer said over phone from Bastar district.

"Nine policemen were killed on the spot and three injured on Monday evening in Kudur village, when Maoists triggered a series of landmine blasts," he said. Among those killed were an Assistant Sub Inspector, one Head Constable and seven constables, the officer said.

Chhattisgarh has been hotbed of Naxal violence. On March 15, 50 security personnel were killed and more than a dozen injured when armed Naxalites opened indiscriminate fire and hurled grenades, petrol bombs at a police base camp in Bijapur district.

The Naxalites attacked the police camp in Rani Bodli, where 25 personnel of Chhattisgarh Armed Forces (CAF) and 55 Special Police Officers (SPOs) were posted. According to the police the Maoist attacked the police outpost from every direction and before fleeing away with the weapons of the forces, they placed landmines in the area.

The bomb disposal squad later swung into action with the assistance of CRPF personnel to clear the landmines. Five Naxals were also killed retaliatory fire by the security forces.