12 hurt in Orissa landmine blast

BHUBANESWAR - At least 12 security personnel were hurt Monday when their vehicle was blown up by a landmine blast triggered by Maoist rebels in Orissa’s Gajapati district, police said.

The landmine went off when the vehicle carrying the personnel of the Special Operations Group (SOG) was passing next to a hill near Andheri village in Gajapati, some 470 km from here.

‘Maoists have triggered a landmine blast, but all our people are out of danger,’ District Superintendent of Police Shefeen Ahmed K. told IANS over telephone.

The injured have been admitted to hospital and a search is underway for the rebels, he added.