The death toll in the landmine blast near Sunki ghat in Koraput district increased to 8 on Thursday, after the body of another Odisha State Armed Police (OSAP) official was recovered. On Wednesday, seven personnel of OSAP were killed when the minibus they were travelling in was flung off the road after a landmine, reportedly planted by Maoists under a culvert, exploded near Sunki in Koraput district. The other jawans who died in the landmine blast are Havildar major Somnath Sisa, Havildar Arun Kumar Nayak, Harekrushna Prusty, Ganesh Prasad Saha, Sanjay Kumar Dash, Subarna Kumar Raj and Pradipta Kumar Rout. In August 2013, four BSF personnel died and three others were injured when suspected Maoists triggered a landmine blast in the same area. In last 3 months, Maoists in Pottangi area of Koraput have killed a contractor and husband of a Naib Sarpanch.

Source: Indian Express February 02, 2017 06:00 UTC