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Five policemen, including a deputy superintendent of police, were killed and one was injured when Maoists triggered a landmine blast and opened fire on their vehicle on the Tamar-Pundi road bridge near Ranchi on Monday.
The powerful blast blew up the police gypsy killing Bundu DSP Pramod Kumar Sinha and two constables on the spot, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police R K Mullick told PTI.
Later, two other constables succumbed to their injuries on way to Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Mullick said.
The Maoists triggered the blast about 60 km from Ranchi when the police were returning from long-range patrolling at Lungtu in Bundu. As soon as the vehicle drove over the road bridge under which the landmine was fitted the blast took place, badly twisting the vehicle.
Immediately after triggering the landmine, the Maoists opened indiscriminate fire on the policemen, in which three policemen also received bullet injuries, Mullick said.
The police also returned fire and forced the Maoists back into the forests, he said.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda directed DGP V D Ram and other senior officers to rush to the spot and step up anti-Naxal operations.
"The Maoists are frustrated following the continued raids and busting of their training camps. The police will step up the anti-Naxal operation further," Koda told media persons in Ranchi.