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At least five policemen were killed and six others injured when their vehicle was blown up by a landmine, set up allegedly by Maoists, in Palamu district Wednesday.
Police said that the team was returning to its Hussainabad base after conducting anti-Maoist operations in Kala Pahad area of the district. The injured were initially taken to Daltonganj, from where they were referred to Ranchi. The toll was expected to rise further.
According to the police, the landmine went off near Kasiyar village in Chhatarpur, when a TATA-407, in which around a dozen policemen were present, passed over it at around 5.30 pm.
“There have been five deaths, including of the vehicle’s driver. At least six others have been injured,” said Additional Superintendent of Police (Operations) Kanhaiya Singh. He added that the vehicle leading the team escaped as the mine exploded soon after it went past the spot. Hussainabad police station in-charge, Rajesh Prasad Rajjak, who was leading the party in his vehicle, had a miraculous escape.
Deputy Superintendent of Police Prabhat Ranjan said that there were also reports of firing at the police party after the explosion. “The encounter has reportedly stopped. But a massive combing operation has been launched,” he said.
Senior police officials, including Deputy Inspector General (Palamau) Saket Kumar Singh, were rushed to the spot with reinforcements after the incident. The vehicle that was blown-up was part of a joint team of central para-military forces special forces and local police.
“The team was returning to Hussainabad when the blast occurred,” said Singh.
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