Landmine kills 12 security personnel in Jharkhand

RANCHI: At least 12 security personnel were killed in a landmine blast triggered by suspected Maoist guerrillas near Jamshedpur town of Jharkhand Saturday afternoon, the police said.

According to a Jharkhand police spokesperson, the landmine blast took place near Buridih dam of East Singhbhum district, which is around 270 km from Ranchi and 70 km from Jamshedpur town.

The security personnel belonging to Jharkhand Armed Police (JAP) were on long range patrolling when the blast was triggered.
 
Sub inspector Ravi Kant was among the 12 killed security men, the police spokesman said.

The police spokesman said Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) rebels had planted the landmine.
 
Maoist rebels are active in 18 of the 24 districts of the state. In the last seven years, more than 1,300 people, including civilians and leftist rebels, have been killed in the Maoist related violence.