Five Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were killed and two others seriously injured in a powerful landmine blast triggered by Maoists on National Highway-221 in Dantewada, about 550 km south of Raipur on Tuesday evening.
The Bastar range inspector general of police TJ Longkumer told HT that the search party of CRPF was on way to Sukma, when the incident occurred.
"It took place on the national highway. Five jawans were killed on the spot and two are injured," the IG said.
The CRPF were reportedly travelling in a private vehicle, which indicated that the Maoists might have had information that the forces were on board. It is feared that the casualty figure may rise.
Seven personnel were traveling in the ill-fated Travera that hit the landmine at around 8.30pm.
The two injured were rushed to Jagdalpur hospital.
The rebels had called for a two-day shutdown in seven states from May 21 to protest against the recent arrest of three of its central committee members in Bihar.
According to the statement issued by the guerillas, the bandh would be enforced in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
{{/usCountry}}According to the statement issued by the guerillas, the bandh would be enforced in Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa, West Bengal, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh.
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