Orissa land mine blast toll rises to 11

BHUBANESWAR - The deaths in the land mine blast triggered by Maoists in Orissa’s Koraput district Sunday rose to 11, officials said Monday.

The guerrillas detonated a powerful landmine when a large number of the state police’s Special Operations Group (SOG) personnel were going in three vehicles in a hilly and forested area, 14 km from Baipariguda town in Koraput district, some 540 km from here.

One of the buses was blown up and officials put the number of the dead at 10.

A rescue team member said they had recovered nine bodies from the spot a few hours later. Two more bodies were found Monday.

“Two more bodies were found in nearby place,” Deputy Inspector General of Police Sanjeeb Panda told IANS.

Panda said the state and central forces have intensified combing operation in the area.