Naxal blasts kill four in Dantewada

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

Three of those wounded were stated to be in a critical condition.

''After conveying rations to Polampalli camp, personnel were returning by a 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. An unidentified rebel was killed in retaliatory fire.

The deceased were identified as SPOs Pichho Masa, Sodi Joga, villagers Podium Pojja and Kawasi Joga.

Lantham Jama, SPO Karam Lakka and Pichho Sigo, who were critically injured were rushed to Raipur by a helicopter.

SPO Rajesh Dugga and Narsaiyya were hospitalised at Jagdalpur.

UNI XC-AC YA DB2031