Several dead in Indian police truck blast
Eighteen Indian policemen have been killed and two seriously wounded when their truck was blown up by an explosive device planted by Maoist rebels in the east of the country.
The attack occurred at Chakia, about 100km east of the Hindu holy town of Varanasi in the populous Uttar Pradesh state on Saturday.
Chakia is near the border of neighbouring Bihar state where Maoist insurgents, claiming to be fighting for the rights of landless labourers and poor peasants, have a strong presence.
“This is the first time the police in Uttar Pradesh have been attacked in such a gruesome manner and we are not going to spare them [the guerrillas],” VKB Nair, director-general of police, said.
“The two injured policemen are in critical condition.”
He said police reinforcements had been sent to Chakia and were scouring the area.
Maoist fighters operate in southern and eastern India and often target the police through ambushes and by planting landmines. They are also active in Nepal, which borders both Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.