Maoist landmine blast: At least seven cops killed, six others injured in Odisha

Maoists suspected to have detonated landmine blast leaving at least seven police personnel dead and six others injured in Odisha’s Koraput district close to Andhra Pradesh border.

“A total of seven persons have so far died in the landmine blast incident,” DIG south-western range, S Syani, said. Three bodies were recovered from the blast site, while three others died in the hospital later. 

The blast occured near Mungarbhumi on Sunki ghat, barely one km from Andhra Pradesh border, in the Maoist-affected Koraput district, the officer said.

13 personnel, mostly police drivers, were going to Cuttack in a truck for training when the landmine took place, Syani said.The seriously injured cops were taken to hospitals in Koraput in Odisha and Visakhapatanam in Andhra Pradesh.

The blast was suspected to have been triggered by the red rebels operating in Andhra-Odisha border areas, police said.

“Our men are facing problem in the rescue operation due to darkness,” ASP (Koraput) V R Rao said. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has termed the incident a “cowardly act”.

(With inputs from PTI)