Police personnel killed in Maoist attack cremated with state honours in Orissa

The state authorities of Orissa gave state funeral to the slain police personnel, recently killed in a landmine blast triggered by Maoist in the Orissa's Kandhamal District, on Friday.

Three policemen were killed and three others seriously injured in a landmine blast in Maoist infested Kandhamal district on Thursday.

According to security officials, a team of police personnel, mostly constables, were sent on a special assignment to enquire into an explosion triggered by Maoists that took place on Wednesday in the forest areas.

However, the Maoists laid trap in the form of concealed land mines which exploded when the police team was on its way.

Police officials and hundreds of people, paid their homage to the three slain martyrs-Constables Sunasira Mohanty and Sangram Lenka, and Homeguard Umakanta Jani-after autopsies were carried out on their bodies.

Orissa government has condemned the incident in the strongest terms and announced financial support to the bereaved families.

The grieving relatives of Sunasira Mohanty scathingly criticised the police department for allegedly sending him for the fated mission despite knowing he was injured.

"He had hurt himself earlier, and was unable to even wear pants. However, he was called in by the force, saying it was an emergency. His senior officials even threatened to dismiss him from service if he did not come for the mission and he was sent there. They sent him to the area in a four-wheeler, despite knowing well that landmines had been placed everywhere by the Maoists," said Judhistir Mohanty, brother of Sunasira Mohanty. (ANI)