India News: Threat within.

Maoists blow up ambulance, 5 killed including 2 women

Agencies

Posted: Sun Nov 28 2010, 11:19 hrsPhulbani:
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At least five persons, including two women and a three-year-old child, were killed as Maoists blew up an ambulance by triggering a landmine blast in Orissa's Kandhamal district, police said on Sunday. "We have received information about a landmine explosion that blew up an ambulance in Brahmanigaon area of Kandhamal late last night," said Director General of Police Manmohan Praharaj.

The ambulance was on its way from Gadapur to Brahmanigaon, about two km from the blast site, when it was targetted in the Maoist infested area close to Gajapati and Ganjam, the police said.

The explosion that took place near a culvert at Pangdugaon, about 300 km from here, killed among others a woman health worker, a pregnant woman and the ambulance driver, Deputy Inspector General of Police (Southern Range) R K Sharma said.

The victims were identified as Simon Mallick the driver, Imoty Digal the pregnant lady, her three-year-old daughter Subhasri Digal, their relative Bunu Digal and Sukanti Pradhan the health worker, the police said.

While the driver hailed from Gadapur village in the district, the other victims belonged to Daringbadi, he said.

Security forces including CRPF jawans have launched a massive combing operation in the area to nab the Maoists.

The incident came close on the heels of the killing of a prominent contractor, Manoj Sahu on November 25 in Brahmanigaon area. (indian express)

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Maoists blow up Jharkhand panchayat building

Source:IANS    Sun, Nov 28, 2010 at 12:50

Ranchi, Nov 28 (IANS) Maoist guerrillas blew up a panchayat building in Jharkhand's Latehar district as the state holds its first panchayat polls, police said Sunday.

According to the police, 15 to 20 Maoists raided Khura village in Latehar, some 140 km from here, late Saturday night and blew up a panchayat building using detonators and explosives.

No one was injured in the incident.

The first phase of the five-phase panchayat polls took place in Jharkhand Saturday that saw 64 percent balloting.

In a separate incident, police recovered two landmines from Khapia village in Latehar district.

The last panchayat elections were held in 1979 when Jharkhand was part of Bihar. The subsequent polls could not be held in Jharkhand due to a legal battle over reservation to tribal people in scheduled areas (notified tribal areas).

In the absence of elected panchayats, the state loses out on over Rs.300-400 crore annually in central assistance, which are provided to these local governments directly.

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