Koraput (Orissa): Stepping up violence in
Orissa, Maoists today blew up a van in a landmine attack
killing nine jawans of a special anti-Naxal force while eight
others were injured in Koraput district.
The blast occurred as Union Home Minister P
Chidamabaram visited Maoist-infested territory of Lalgarh in
neighbouring West Bengal and made a fresh offer of talks with
the ultras if they abjure violence.
Two jawans were also missing after the landmine
exploded at Tanginiguda area, about 55 km from here,
destroying a van that was ferrying personnel of the elite
anti-Naxalite Special Operation Group (SOG) after an operation
in adjacent Malkangiri district.
"While nine jawans were killed in the explosion, there
was no trace two other securitymen," Deputy Inspector General
(DIG) of police, Southern Range, Sanjeev Panda said.
The incident is seen as a setback for security
forces as it came ahead of the proposed special joint
anti-Maoist operation in the state.
Of the eight injured SOG personnel, four were shifted
to Vishakapatnam in neighbouring Andhra Pradesh while the
rest were admitted to nearby hospitals, he said.
Condemning the attack, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik
said a massive combing operation had been launched by the
security forces and senior police officers including the
Director General (Intelligence) have rushed to the spot.
Patnaik announced Rs eight lakh ex-gratia and Rs ten
lakh insurance money for the next of kin of every slain jawan
besides job for one member of the family. The widow of each
slain jawan would get salary till his retirement age, he
said.
The vehicle disintegrated with its parts scattered
about 20 to 30 feet down the hilly path, blood was
splattered on the road and dismembered limbs of jawans were
strewn around, an eyewitness said.
Earlier the death toll was put at ten but after
thorough scanning of the blast site and search in nearby areas
two jawans were found to be missing and the number of those
killed revised to nine, police said.
Sources said a brief exchange of fire also took place
between security personnel and Maoists near the blast
site. The ultras fled after a shortwhile.
Additional forces have been sent to the spot and a
combing operation launched to track down Maoist guerrillas,
the police said.
The tragedy took place despite strict instruction to
jawans to walk down while crossing the Govindpali Ghati area,
the sources said.
PTI
