5 killed in landmine blast

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, Feb 8 (UNI) Five people, including four security personnel, were killed on the spot and five others seriously injured in a landmine blast triggered by naxalites in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh this morning.

The blast occured on Geedam-Bhopalpatnam section of national highway when the security personnel from Bhairamgarh police station were moving on foot to Bodli village on a tip-off about naxalites hiding there.

Assistant Sub-Inspector Chandrakant Markam, two jawans of the Nagaland Armed Force, a Special Police Officer and a civilian were killed in the blast about 10 Km from Bhairamgarh, while five police jawans were injured, police sources said.

The injured would be ferried to Raipur by helicopter for treatment, the sources added.

Meanwhile, police constable Ashok Potai was killed in an attack by naxalites in Raoghat police station area in Kanker district last night, the sources added.

UNI