Four CRPF personnel killed as Naxals trigger off landmine in West Bengal

WEST MIDNAPORE - At least four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel were feared killed when suspected Maoists triggered off a landmine in West Bengal’s West Midnapore District on Wednesday.

Two other personnel were injured in the incident.

According to the CRPF, the personnel were conducting routine patrolling.

The personnel had set out from their camp at Goaltore market to nearby villages when the blast took place at Ramgarh in Lalgarh Police Station limits at around 11.30 a.m.

Those killed included three constables besides the driver of the vehicle in which they were traveling.

The vehicle was badly damaged in the explosion.

Sources said the blast left a five-feet-deep crater on the road.

Wednesday is the second day of 48-hour shutdown forced by the Maoists.

The recent attack comes just two days after a bus was blown up in Chhattisgarh killing 31 people, including 16 Special Police Officers (SPOs).

Earlier in the day, the Maoists detonated a landmine between Gidhni and Khathura stations damaging a goods train running between Tatanagar and Howrah in the Jhargram Police Station area near Khatpora in the District.

The train was damaged, and the driver and assistant driver of the train have been injured.

Earlier, the Union Home Ministry had issued a high alert in all the five states-Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Jharkhand - following the call for a shutdown by the Maoists. (ANI)