10 Commandos Killed In Maoist-Triggered Blast In Bihar

New Delhi: At least 10 paramilitary commandos were killed and five others wounded in an attack by Maoists in Bihar's Aurangabad district on Monday. The operation against the Maoists that lasted for more than 10 hours got over today, say security officials, and six more teams have been sent to the forests strewn with booby traps.

The commandos, who belonged to the elite COBRA battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), were lured into a low-lying area rigged with landmines and killed in serial blasts in a forest region around 170 km from state capital Patna. Officials say wounded soldiers are still stuck at the spot.

Four Maoists were killed in a gun-battle with the forces.

"While eight personnel were killed on the spot, two others died when they were being evacuated," a senior official said.

Security personnel suspect that Maoists may have planted more bombs and are scouring the area. Weapons including an AK-47 rifle, INSAS rifle and grenade launcher were found at the site.

Home Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar this morning and has also asked the CRPF Director General to go to the spot.

The security personnel killed in the blast were from the 205th COBRA or Commando Battalion For Resolute Action, which has been posted in Bihar for anti-Maoist operations and which has been raised for special jungle warfare operations.

The commandos were assisting another team that was in the area in response to information about a Maoist platoon.

In March, seven policemen were killed when their truck hit a landmine planted by Maoists in Chhattisgarh.

Maoists, described as India's biggest internal security threat, operate in 20 of India's 28 states and have thousands of fighters, according to the Home Ministry.