Three BSF jawans, villager killed in landmine blast in Odisha’s Malkangiri

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Malkangiri, Aug 26:

Three Border Security Force (BSF) jawans and villager were killed and six others including an assistant commandant were severely injured in a landmine blast in the cut-off area in Odisha’s Malkangiri district this morning.

Maoist picAccording to reports, the BSF jawans, in charge of security at the construction site of Gurupriya bridge, were returning to their base camp at Chitrakonda after a combing operation at Raleguda when they accidentally stumbled on a landmine planted near Palangarai village, about four km from Janbai ghat, which went off killing three jawans on the spot.

While several jawans were injured, six of them including the assistant commandant Ashok Kumar sustained severe injuries.

Following information, additional BSF personnel rushed to the spot and admitted their injured colleagues in the district headquarters hospital. Sources said the six seriously injured jawans would be flown to a hospital at Vishakhapatam in a helicopter in a short while as their condition has become critical.

Three three BSF jawans killed in the blast have been identified as R Siddheya, M Ravichandra and G Abinash while the deceased villager has been identified as Hari Kilo.

Till reports last came in, combing operation in the area has been intensified to track down the Red Rebels.

Meanwhile, the Director General of BSF arrived in Malkangiri today for an on-the-spot investigation.

Sources said the BSF had the intelligence reports about a possible retaliatory attack by the Maoists as three of their comrades were killed in police encounter in Malkangiri district on August 1 this year.

Talking to the media, former Director General of Police (DGP ) Bipin Bihari Mishra said had the BSF personnel strictly adhered to the standard operating procedure (SOP), they could have averted the mishap.

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