Ch'garh: 3 SPOs killed in landmine blast

Jagdalpur, Oct 29: Three Special Police Officers (SPOs) were killed and three others, including a constable, were injured today in a landmine blast triggered by Naxalites near Kosaguda village in naxalite infested Bijapur district in Bastar region of Chhattisgarh, police said.

Police sources said the rebels triggered the blast when the security personnel, comprising 16 SPOs and four constables, were patrolling the area at around 1030 hours.

The deceased have been identified as Manoj Kuriam, Ratiram and Tisra Kopa, all SPOs-- the local tribal youth recruited to assist the security personnel in anti-naxalite operations on a monthly honorarium of Rs 1500.

Constable Banarasi Das and two SPOs Robin Singh and Bikamlal were injured, police sources said, adding the rebels also opened fire at the security personnel and also looted arms and ammunitions from the spot.

Police sources said additional security forces had been rushed to the spot, which is about six Kms away from Gangaloor -Bijapur road.

UNI