Dozen SOG personnel injured in landmine blast

About a dozen Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel were injured when a landmine planted by maoists blasted their vehicle in Orissa's Gajapati district on Monday, the police said.

The blast near Andheri Ghati under Adaba police station, about 120 km from here, took place when the SOG personnel were on a combing operation in the maoist affected area, superintendent of Police SA Khan said.

The injured were taken to a nearby hospital where the condition of two was stated to be serious, he said. Additional police forces were sent to the spot. A special team equipped with anti land-mine equipment were also deputed to locate and neutralise explosives if found in the area.