Nine policemen lost there lives as Maoists triggered a landmine explosion on Thursday,damaging a jeep carrying jawans of a special police force in Orissa's Koraput district,about 530 km from Bhubaneswar,police said. The jeep carrying nine personnel of Orissa Special Striking Force (OSSF),set up to tackle Maoist menace,was badly damaged in the landmine attack near Jogi Palur at Maoist-hit Narayanpatna area in Koraput,Deputy Inspector General of Police (South-West range) Sanjeeb Panda said. The incident occurred when personnel of Orissa Disaster Rapid Action Force (ODRAF) and police were engaged in clearing the road between Narayanpatna and Laxmipur,blocked by the Maoists by felling trees two days ago,sources said,adding that efforts were being made to clear the road to restore vehicular movement. The explosion was suspected to have been triggered by the ultras using a remote control,they said. Personnel of OSSF,comprising ex-servicemen,were also escorting the ODRAF team when the explosion occurred; they said and added that the fate of the nine occupants of the jeep was yet to be ascertained. The ultras were feared to have planted landmines at several places,forcing the security force to take utmost caution while proceeding,they said.
