A few hours before balloting began for the first-ever assembly elections in Jharkhand on Thursday, the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) blew up a police vehicle in Palamu, killing six policemen and a civilian driver.

The police team, headed by Chhatarpur police station in charge Ashok Paswan, was returning after dropping a polling party in Chhatarpur assembly constituency, sources in Ranchi said.

• Polling begins amid tight security

The Naxalites exploded a landmine when the police vehicle reached Bhatitola, killing the seven on the spot.

Polling is being held in 24 seats in the first phase of election in the state. The Naxalites have given a poll-boycott call.