KalingaTimes Correspondent
Malkangiri(Odisha), July 16: At least 20 policemen of the Special Operation Group (SOG) of Orissa police were killed when Maoists triggered a landmine blast on Malkangiri-Motu road on Wednesday evening.

The blast occurred at around 4.45 pm when some policemen were clearing the road for their vehicle to move forward. The Maoists had blocked the road by felling trees.

The anti-landmine vehicle in which the SOG jawans were travelling was completely damaged in the blast, police said.

The naxalites also fired at the policemen who were following the anti-landmine vehicle on their two-wheelers.

District Superintendent of Police and other officials had rushed to the spot of the incident, and detailed reports about the incident were awaited.

A large number of naxalites had attacked the house Subal Bal, a local Bharatiya Janata Party leader, at MPV-41 village on Tuesday night and beaten up his family member.

The landmine blast occurred when the Special Operation Group jawans were returning to Malkangiri town from their visit to MPV-41 village, police said.

It may be recalled that as many as 38 persons, a majority of them Greyhound force personnel from Andhra Pradesh, were killed when Maoists attacked a motor launch in Balimela reservoir in the district on June 29.