13 securitymen killed in landmine blasts, 3 injured in J'khand

Bokaro, Dec 2 (UNI) At least 13 security personnel were killed and three others seriously injured when maoists triggered landmines at Kanchkiro, five km from the Bokaro Thermal police station, in this naxalite-dominated district of Jharkhand today.

Superintendent of Police Manabendra Singh Bhatia confimed 13 deaths, saying three other personnel of the Special Task Force were critically injured.

Mr Singh said the STF personnel, travelling in a vehicle, were carrying out random raids in the area when landmines exploded at a culvert, killing many of them on the spot.

Senior police officials have rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation.

A massive manhunt was on.

Several security personnel have been killed in the past few months in in Latehar, Chatra and Bokaro districts as banned naxalite groups plant landmines at several strategic places, targetting security vehicles.

UNI XC-PRS SJC RR VV1838