Dangerous stretch: The blast site near Sunki, on the Andhra Pradesh-Odisha border on NH 26.more-inSeven personnel of the Odisha police were killed when their vehicle was blown up, allegedly by Maoists, in a landmine blast on NH 26 near Sunki in Koraput district on Wednesday evening. Speaking to The Hindu after the search and rescue operation, Deputy Inspector General of Police, South-West Range, S. Shaini, confirmed the death of seven policemen. Vehicle ambushedThe vehicle was transporting a few assistant drivers of the police department to Cuttack for training. A similar landmine blast on August 27, 2013, at a culvert near Ralegada between Pottangi and Sunki killed four Border Security Force personnel. The latest landmine blast is believed to be a retaliation by Maoists to a joint security operation in the cutoff area of Malkangiri district in October 2016.

Source: The Hindu February 01, 2017 18:56 UTC