4 killed,8 injured in Orissa landmine blast

Four civilians,including two women,were killed and eight security personnel injured when their trekker was blown up by a landmine triggered by Maoists in Koraput district on Saturday.

“Four civilians were killed and eight members of the Special Operation Group (SOG) injured in the landmine blast this morning,” Deputy Inspector General of Police (Southern Range),Sanjeev Panda said.

The blast took place at Jogipalur area when ten personnel of the elite anti-naxalite force were returning to their barracks in the trekker.

The owner of the trekker,Uday Taringi,his wife Kausalya Kulusika,driver Totir Mahanandi and Narayanpatna area local Kumudini Sunamudi were killed in the incident.

The eight personnel were rushed to the hospital where they were found to be not seriously injured,Panda said,adding police have launched a combing operation in the area. Maoists also blew up a mobile phone tower in Machhkund area of the district and ransacked the tehsil office before setting ablaze official records and documents,Koraput Superintendent of Police Anup Kumar Sahu said.

Traffic between Machhkund and Lamptapur was disrupted as the rebels had blocked the connecting road by felling trees,he added.

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