LOC14:26
11:26 GMT
NEW DELHI, May 19 (KUNA) -- Armed Maoists rebels killed as many as four
security personnel and injured two in a an IED (improvised explosive device)
blast in the eastern most state of West Bengal on Wednesday, said media
reports.
The blast was triggered by the Maoists at Lalgarh district of the state on
the last day of the two-day shutdown called by them in five states; Orissa,
Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Those killed belonged to the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), tasked to
maintain internal security in the country. They were patrolling the area when
the blast suddenly took place.
Over the past one month the Maoists have been on a spree of killing
security personnel. On April 6, they had killed nearly 75 Central Reserve
Police Force (CRPF) security personnel in the country's central state of
Chhattisgarh.
Earlier this week, they blew off a bus on Monday evening killing nearly 40
people, including women, children and a few security personnel in Chhattisgarh.
Todays blast aimed at security personnel assumes significance as it came
just a day after the country's Home Minister P. Chidambaram offered talks with
the Maoists. The blast is seen as Maoists' message turning down the talks
offer. (end)
py.ema
KUNA 191426 May 10NNNN