Naxal blasts kill four

Dantewada, Dec 21 (UNI) Four persons, including two special police officers (SPOs), were killed and five -- including a Mizoram Police personnel -- injured today in blasts triggered off by naxals on the Gorguda-Polampalli road in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district.

Three of those hurt were stated to be critical.

''After conveying rations to Polampalli camp, personnel were returning by tractor this morning. Two SPOs and a couple of villagers died in the landmine blast,'' said Inspector-General (Bastar Range) R K Vij.

The second explosion targeted a police party that was on foot.

Besides the Mizo personnel Lantham Jama, three SPOs and a villager were injured. Retaliatory action slew an unidentified rebel.

The deceased were identified as SPOs Pichho Masa, Sodi Joga, villagers Podium Pojja and Kawasi Joga. Severely-injured Jama, SPO Karam Lakka and Pichho Sigo were rushed to Raipur by helicopter. SPO Rajesh Dugga and Narsaiyya were hospitalised at Jagdalpur.

UNI XC-AC 2006