At least four Border Security Force (BSF) soldiers were killed and two injured in a landmine blast triggered by the Maoists in Koraput district on Tuesday.
The Maoists attacked the BSF at Ghat road near Ralegada on National Highway 26, about 60km from here, under Pottangi police limits bordering Andhra Pradesh around 8am.
Police said as many as 18 BSF personnel were travelling from Koraput to Vishakpatnam in Andhra Pradesh in three four-wheelers with six men in each vehicle. While the two vehicles crossed over safely, the third vehicle exploded in the blast.
‘The Maoists had planted the explosives beneath a culvert and attacked the third vehicle. While four BSF men were killed on the spot, the two injured, after preliminary treatment at Sunki hospital, were referred to a hospital in Vishakapatnam,’ said a senior police officer in Koraput.
‘Our rescue party has left for the spot and details are awaited. Identity of the deceased are yet to be established,’ the officer added.
Police said the deceased jawans belonged to 161 battalion of the BSF. The incident is considered as a fallout of the killing of Maoist leader Madhav in a police encounter in Koraput district. Security men had gunned down Madhav in a fierce gunbattle in Machkund area of the district on 23 August.
Meanwhile, a Special Task Force (STF) commander and a jawan were on Tuesday killed in an encounter between the ultras and security forces in Maoist-hit Bastar region of southern Chhattisgarh, police said.
‘The incident took place between the forests under Madum police station (Bastar district) and Mardapal police station (Kondagaon district) limits when a joint party of STF and local police was coming out of the forest after an intense operation,’ Bastar superintendent of police Ajay Yadav said.
Those killed were identified as company commander Lav Bhagat and constable Selestian Kujur, Yadav said.
The Maoists attacked the BSF at Ghat road near Ralegada on National Highway 26, about 60km from here, under Pottangi police limits bordering Andhra Pradesh around 8am.
Police said as many as 18 BSF personnel were travelling from Koraput to Vishakpatnam in Andhra Pradesh in three four-wheelers with six men in each vehicle. While the two vehicles crossed over safely, the third vehicle exploded in the blast.
‘The Maoists had planted the explosives beneath a culvert and attacked the third vehicle. While four BSF men were killed on the spot, the two injured, after preliminary treatment at Sunki hospital, were referred to a hospital in Vishakapatnam,’ said a senior police officer in Koraput.
‘Our rescue party has left for the spot and details are awaited. Identity of the deceased are yet to be established,’ the officer added.
Police said the deceased jawans belonged to 161 battalion of the BSF. The incident is considered as a fallout of the killing of Maoist leader Madhav in a police encounter in Koraput district. Security men had gunned down Madhav in a fierce gunbattle in Machkund area of the district on 23 August.
Meanwhile, a Special Task Force (STF) commander and a jawan were on Tuesday killed in an encounter between the ultras and security forces in Maoist-hit Bastar region of southern Chhattisgarh, police said.
‘The incident took place between the forests under Madum police station (Bastar district) and Mardapal police station (Kondagaon district) limits when a joint party of STF and local police was coming out of the forest after an intense operation,’ Bastar superintendent of police Ajay Yadav said.
Those killed were identified as company commander Lav Bhagat and constable Selestian Kujur, Yadav said.