Bhubaneswar: Orissa Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik on Sunday announced an ex-gratia of Rs eight lakh and an
insurance sum of Rs ten lakh to the kin of those security
personnel killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists.
"I strongly condemn the cowardly act of Maoists... it is
savage and unlawful," Patnaik said in a statement.
At least ten security personnel were killed in the blast
at Tanginiguda area of Koraput district when a van carrying
jawans of elite anti-Naxalite Special Operation Group (SOG)
was returning from an operation from adjacent Malkangiri
district.
The Chief Minister said one member of the family of each
of the victims will be provided jobs while their widows will
be entitled to get their salary till their retirement age.
A massive combing operation has been launched in the area
to nab the naxals while senior police officials including the
Dirctor General of Police (Intelligence) have rushed to the
site, he said.
PTI
