Nine policemen were killed when members of the banned Naxal outfit Communist Party of India-Maoists triggered a series of landmine blasts targeting a 12-member police party in Bastar district of Chattisgarh, police said on Monday.

The Maoists carried out two dozen blasts in the evening when the motorcycle-borne policemen during an anti-Naxal operation were passing through the Kudur area, about 435 from Raipur.

The police said three cops who survived the attack returned to the Mardapal police station, 22 km from the scene of the attack, and informed the station in-charge about the incident.

The Maoists also looted weapons belonging to the policemen, the police said.