Landmines Blast Central India, Maoists Suspected
- 14 years ago
Three landmine blasts took place in the Simdega district of India's central Chhattisgarh state on Wednesday, during a 48-hour shutdown call issued by the Maoist rebels.
According to police, during a routine patrol, officers found a banner put up by Maoists on the side of the road.
When they tried to take down the banner the landmine exploded.
Two more wire-linked landmines placed near the banner were triggered simultaneously.
The landmines were reportedly of low intensity although a crater-like pit was created from the blasts. No injuries were reported.
Explosive experts also recovered two landmines from the same vicinity.
[Satya Narayan, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Central Reserve Police Force]: (Hindi, male)
"We were patrolling according to our duty in the area, we saw a banner of the Maoists. After some investigation we started to pull off one of the bamboos of the banner… It was then that a blast took place and we took our positions."
Maoists have called for a 48-hour shutdown beginning Wednesday, in protest of the killing of their movement’s leader.
Maoist attacks have increased this year, especially after the government launched a coordinated security offensive. Police have been trying to flush out tens of thousands of rebels from their jungle hideouts in central and eastern India.
According to police, during a routine patrol, officers found a banner put up by Maoists on the side of the road.
When they tried to take down the banner the landmine exploded.
Two more wire-linked landmines placed near the banner were triggered simultaneously.
The landmines were reportedly of low intensity although a crater-like pit was created from the blasts. No injuries were reported.
Explosive experts also recovered two landmines from the same vicinity.
[Satya Narayan, Assistant Sub-Inspector, Central Reserve Police Force]: (Hindi, male)
"We were patrolling according to our duty in the area, we saw a banner of the Maoists. After some investigation we started to pull off one of the bamboos of the banner… It was then that a blast took place and we took our positions."
Maoists have called for a 48-hour shutdown beginning Wednesday, in protest of the killing of their movement’s leader.
Maoist attacks have increased this year, especially after the government launched a coordinated security offensive. Police have been trying to flush out tens of thousands of rebels from their jungle hideouts in central and eastern India.