Eleven policemen killed in Jharkhand landmine blast

Chaibasa (Jharkhand), June 10 (ANI): Eleven policemen were killed and three others injured when Maoists triggered off a landmine blast in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum District on Wednesday.

According to police officials, the incident took place at around 8:30 a.m. when the security personnel were on long range patrolling. A gun battle between the security personnel and Maoists took place after the blast near Tithir village of West Singhbhum, about 200 km from here.

Additional forces were rushed to the site, the police added.

Maoists say they are fighting for the rights of the poor, landless and marginal farmers.

Maoists, also known as ''Naxalites'', which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has described as one of the gravest threats to the country's security.

The state worst hit by Maoist violence is Chhattisgarh, where rebels killed 241 people, including security forces, in 2008 alone. (ANI)