DHAKA: Suspected Maoists on Thursday struck again in Gadchiroli district of Maharashtra in India and killed three policemen in a landmine blast and a gunbattle at Jhilia village, bordering Chhattisgarh, some 300 km from eastern part of Maharashtra.

Two jawans were reported to have been injured during the attack, says Hindustan Times.

The firing between the Maoists and the jawans continued for over two hours, according to reports reaching the state headquarters of anti-naxalite operation (ANO) in Nagpur.

The incident occurred when the jawans of the special action group were resting at a school building in Jhilia after night patrolling.

The suspected Maoists planted a landmine there and triggered a blast.

It was followed by an exchange of fire between the special action group and the red ultras which killed the three jawans on the spot and wounded two others.

The red ultras fled as soon as the district police headquarters sent an additional police force to the spot.

BDST: 2109 HRS, OCT 17, 2013
RoR/MZR