By IANS,
Ranchi : At least 11 security personnel were killed and six injured in a landmine blast in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district Wednesday, police said.
The blast was triggered by guerrillas of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) around 8.30 a.m. near Tithir village of West Singhbhum, about 200 km from here.
“Eleven security personnel were killed and six injured in the landmine blast,” Jharkhand police chief V.D. Ram said.
The security personnel belonged to both the state police and the Central Reserve Paramilitary Force (CRPF).
“The security personnel were returning in five vehicles after Long Range Patrolling (LRP). The first vehicle carrying around 20 personnel was hit by the landmine blast. Later, the security personnel were ambushed and a gun battle between the security personnel and the rebels took place,” a police officer said.
The officer said additional forces were rushed to assist in the gun battle.
Maoist guerrillas are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. Nearly 1,500 people have been killed in Maoist-related violence in the last eight years.