Three CRPF personnel killed in landmine explosion by Maoists

Malkangiri (Orissa), Nov 13 (PTI) Three Central
Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including an officer,
were killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in the
southern district of Malkangiri in India's eastern state of
Orissa Friday.
The blast took place in Maoist-dominated MV-66 area,
about 40 km from here, when a van carrying the CRPF personnel
was on its way from Kalimela to Gompagunda probably to pick up
rations, Malkangiri Superintendent of Police Satyabrata Bhoi
said.
The landmine was planted at a culvert and exploded
when the van passed over it, he said.
CRPF deputy commandant Bhupinder Singh was among the
three CRPF men killed.
The attack is believed to be part of the Maoist
strategy to restrict movement of security forces ahead of
their proposed offensive in the region.
Additional CRPF jawans and state police personnel have
been rushed to the site, while steps taken for intensifying
patrolling in the area, Bhoi said.
This was the third attack by Maoists in Malkangiri
this month. A guest house of a private steel company in
Chitrakonda area was torched and a bridge over a rivulet was
blown up on the other two occasions. PTI