Four police personnel killed, eight injured in landmine blast in Odisha-Andhra border

Update: At least seven police personnel were killed and five injured in a landmine blast triggered by suspected Maoists: Koraput SP Charan Singh Meena

Koraput (Odisha): At least four jawans of the Odisha police are suspected to have been killed and more than eight injured in a massive landmine blast near Mungarbhumi on Sunki ghat in Odisha’s Koraput district this evening.

The Maoists detonated an Improvised Explosive Device when the van, carrying 12 policemen and a civilian, reached near Mogarguma village on the Sunki-Salur highway, said police.

The blast was of high intensity, creating a 7-feet deep crater on the highway.

The policemen were part of a convoy which was going from Koraput to Cuttack for driving training.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik expressed his condolence to the deceased families and described the incident as ‘an act of cowardice’.

“Strongly condemn the cowardly act & condole martyrdom of police personnel in landmines blast. My deep sympathies with bereaved families,” tweeted Patnaik.

Meanwhile, the security personnel have reached the spot and carried out rescue operation.