Maoists kill four Maharashtra cops

Gadchiroli (Maharashtra), Oct 5 (ANI): Maoists killed four police personnel in a landmine blast in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, a day after 20 suspected Maoists were arrested by the district police.

The blast was triggered when the policemen, including an inspector and two sub-inspectors were on their way to a weekly market at Perimali village in a police jeep.

The two CRPF men have been identified as Inspector Nauroti Yadav and constable Anand Kumar of the 9th battalion of the force, posted in the area for anti-Naxal operations.

Two sub-inspectors of Maharashtra Police-Shashi More and Mahendra Mangul- were also killed in the attack.

A rescue team and additional reinforcements have been dispatched to the spot to trace the other policemen who were accompanying them.

On Sunday, the district police arrested 20 suspected Maoists allegedly involved in an encounter with the police in Hattitola village that killed 16 police personnel in May 2009.

Sunil Ramananand, Inspector General of Anti Maoists Operations, Maharashtra Police said that the arrested Maoists were involved in an incident of hijacking an official truck and taking away all the freight materials.

"A huge cache of explosives and detonators were also recovered from the Maoists," he added.

The arrested Maoists remanded to police custody till October 7. (ANI)