DHAKA: Seven members of a polling party and five CRPF personnel were killed as Maoists struck twice on Saturday, blowing up a bus and an ambulance in India’s Bijapur and Bastar districts of Chhattisgarh.

A bus carrying a team of poll officials and security personnel was hit by a landmine blast around 1pm at Ketulnar in Bijapur district.

When the team reached near Ketulnar village between Gudma and Kutru, Maoists who were waiting for an opportunity triggered a landmine blast on the vehicle, RK Vij, additional director general of police (Naxal operation) said.

The rebels fled to the core forest after security personnel launched a retaliatory attack. Reinforcements were rushed to the spot and efforts are being made to retrieve the victims from the jungle, ADG RK Vij said.

‘Seven polling officials have lost their lives in Naxal attack in Bijapur district of Chhattisgarh,’ state chief electoral officer Sunil Kujur said, reports The Times of India.

BDST: 1735 HRS, APR 12, 2014