13 cops killed in Jharkhand Maoist strike

Ranchi, Jan 21 (IBNS) In the second major attack since the killing of its top leader Kishenji in neighbouring West Bengal in November, the Maoists struck heavily on Saturday in Jharkhand, killing 13 policemen in Garhwa district on Saturday.

"At least 13 our men are dead in the attack," Inspector General of Police R K Mallick told IBNS.

Additional Director (Law and Order) in Jharkhand Police B B Pradhan said the Maoists triggered the landmine blast in Salo forest of Garhwa at around 12 noon.

Police said that the vehicle was carrying 15 policemen when the IED (Improvised Explosive Device) blast was triggered.

Maoists had received a blow in November last year when on Nov 24, 2011 its top leader Koteshwar Rao alias Kishenji was killed in an encounter in West Bengal.

The dreaded 53-year-old rebel leader was killed after an encounter that began with a police manhunt in the forest of Kushboni in West Midnapore district.

However, security experts had warned that the killing of Kishenji will not bring an end to the attacks despite a temporary blow to the rebels.

In early Dec 2011, eleven people, including ten cops and an eight years old boy, were killed when the Maoists triggered a landmine blast, targeting the convoy of a Member of Parliament, Inder Singh Namdhari, at Ladu More in the Latehar District of Jharkhand.

(Reporting by Sujoy Dhar)