8 detained in connection with landmine blast

KOLKATA: Eight persons have been detained a day after suspected Maoists triggered a powerful blast which injured six policemen and damaged the security vehicle of Union minister Ram Vilas Paswan at Baroa in West Midnapore district.
     
IGP (law and order) Raj Kanojia said, "We have detained eight persons after intensive raids at Bhadutala and some other villages throughout the night and they are being interrogated."
     
Senior police officers, including IG (western Range) Kuldip Singh were camping in the area to help the investigation, he said.
     
Forensic experts were collecting samples from the area where bomb splinters lay scattered and a 5-ft crater had been formed due to the blast, he said.
     
Experts were ascertaining whether an IED had been used, he said.
     
Paswan had a close shave when the landmine blasted his security vehicle in the Maoist-infested district shortly after Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee passed through the area of attack.
     
Paswan, along with his deputy Jiten Prasada and industrialist Sajjan Jindal, was travelling in the same government vehicle after attending the foundation-stone laying ceremony for the Jindal steel project in Salboni.