Securitymen escape Maoist landmine blast in Orissa

A police van carrying two platoons of CRPF personnel had a narrow escape when a landmine, triggered by Maoists, exploded in Orissa's Sundargarh district today, police said.

The blast took place at Kamarposh on NH-215 under K Balang police station, about 80km from Rourkela.

The explosion occurred as soon as the police van passed the culvert around 11am and under its impact the small bridge was partially damaged, the sources said.

The ultras were believed to have planted the landmine beneath a culvert to restrict the force movement on combing operation, continuing for two days following Maoists attack at Relhatur, a nearby village, yesterday.

There was no report of injury to the vehicle or any personnel, they said.

In a pre-dawn attack yesterday, the Maoists had damaged three government buildings, including the local panchayat office, at Relhatur.

The CRPF personnel from Chandiposh camp were on their way to Bimlagarh to join the ongoing combing operation.