Maoists blow up police bus, 10 killed (Second Lead)

BHUBANESWAR - Maoist guerrillas Sunday detonated a landmine and blew up a police bus, killing at least 10 security personnel and injuring three of them in Orissa’s Koraput district, an official said.

The rebels detonated the landmine about 14 km from Baipariguda town, some 540 km from here, when a large number of the state’s Special Operation Group (SOG) personnel were going in three vehicles, Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda told IANS.

They blasted one of the buses, damaging it completely, he said.

“At least 10 security personnel were killed. The number of deaths may go up,” Panda said.

At least three policemen were injured in the Maoist attack.

Maoists are active in more than half of the state’s 30 districts. Koraput district is considered their stronghold.

Maoist rebels claim they are fighting for the poor, deprived and neglected sections of society, often carrying out attacks on landlords and contractors. They also regularly attack police, government establishments and factories in the state.

According to official figures, from 2001 to 2009 the rebels killed at least 145 policemen and 93 civilians in Orissa while the number of Maoists killed by the police was only 61.

Naxalite militancy in southern, northern and north-western parts of the state continues to be an area of major concern for the state government, officials said.