13 policemen including OC killed in Maoist attack

Thirteen policemen, including the officer-in-charge of Bhandaria police station, were killed on Saturday and two others injured when Maoists triggered a landmine blast near the jungles of Bariganwa in Garhwa district of Jharkhand. 

Official sources said to Prasar Bharati correspondent that the blast occurred near Bargarh Panchayat under Bhandaria police station.

"The Maoists triggered the blast, killing 12 policemen and the officer-in-charge of Bhandaria police station R B Choudhary around 11 am," SP Michael S Raj said.

"Only after post mortem, we tell whether they were hit by bullets (too)," he said when asked whether the Maoists fired upon the policemen after blowing up their anti-landmine vehicle, about 75 km from Garhwa town.

According to sources in Bhandaria police station, about 50 Maoists waiting for the police party triggered the blast around 11 AM.

"Thirteen policemen were killed and two policemen were injured in the blast," Director General of Police G S Rath said.

On 3^rd December, Maoists had triggered landmine blast in Latehar, killing 10 policemen and a child.