Land mine blast causes tension in the district

Midnapore, Jun 7 (UNI) A major disaster was averted today when a land mine, planted by suspected Maoist militants in Lakat, in Lalagarh police station area, damaged a police jeep that was returning from an overnight patrol here this evening.

At about 1530 hrs, the police jeep was returning near Binpur I Block when the land mine exploded. The eight police personnel, who were travelling in the jeep, were however not injured since the jeep, which was moving at a slow pace was only partly damaged.

The explosion, nonetheless threw them out of the jeep, police here said.

Exchange of fire between the police and the militants took place for half an hour, until the suspected Maoists retreated.

A big police contingent comprising Combat Force and Eastern Frontier rifles led by West Midnapore SP R Rajshekharan have reached the spot.

Combing operations were on to nab the assailants. However, the SP informed, no arrests have yet been made.

In the past eight months, in Lalgarh, Maoist encroachment has become a cause for concern with three CPM leaders and six policemen killed and and another dozen journalists being seriously injured in a land mine explosion in Jhitka forest very near Lakat where today's incident occurred.

Only a week back, the house of Sk Khaliluddin, a CPM Zonal Committee leader in Lalgarh was attacked by the Maoists, who fired 70 rounds from AK 47 Rifles.

Manik Mahato(60), the father-in-law of Upen Mahato a local CPM leader was killed in Jamda village as the Maoists raided their house in Jamda village about a week back.

Police have blocked the entire area. Tension still prevails in the area.

UNI