Maoists strike in Maharashtra: 11 CRPF personnel killed

Eleven Central Reserve Police Force personnel were on Tuesday killed and several others injured when a bus they were travelling in was blown up in a landmine blast triggered by Maoists in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra.

The troops of Central Reserve Police Force were going to Gatta for duty from Pushtola, nearly 4 km from Gadchiroli, when the blast took place, killing them on the spot, CRPF officials said.

Earlier, reports reaching the CRPF headquarters in New Delhi had put the number of casualties at 15, they said.

Officials said the exact number of security personnel travelling in the bus was not immediately known and the toll could go up.

They said that a helicopter and a reinforcement team have been rushed to the spot.

CRPF chief K Vijay Kumar, who is on a tour of Maharashtra, was in Gadchiroli area after he started from Nagpur on Tuesday morning, they said, adding that he would be visiting the blast site.

The troops belonging to the 192nd battalion of the force were deployed in the area.

According to the police in Nagpur, several civilians were also injured in the blast.

Preliminary reports received by the office of Inspector General (Operations) Sunil Ramanand said the incident occurred near Pustola village on Karwafa-Fulbodi Gutta road, nearly 4 km from Gadchiroli, around noon.

Combing operations by the security forces in the area have already begun, they said.

"I am gathering information and will make a statement in the Maharashtra assembly," said Home Minister R R Patil.