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Suspected Maoists on Friday opened fire and detonated a landmine, killing two policemen and injuring several others, near Pirakata in Lalgarh in West Midnapore district.
The incident occurred when the security personnel were walking from Pirakata police camp to a jungle near Burisole for an operation, police said.
"Two security men -- Alok Mondal and Srimanta Banerjee -- of the Indian Reserve Battalion (IRB) were fatally injured in the landmine explosion. The duo was rushed to Midnapore Medical College and Hospital where they were declared brought dead," West Midnapore SP Manoj Kumar Verma told PTI over phone.
The condition of three others was serious, he said.
However, local police put the number of injured to eight.
"The landmine exploded as they were about to enter the jungle. A second explosion also could have taken place, but we are not sure about it," a senior district police officer said.
Asked if Maoists were behind the explosion, Verma said, "Apparently it seems so."
According to police, the Maoists opened fire at the patrolling party just after the explosion, following which the forces retaliated.