Police arrest two Maoists for role in Jharkhand landmine blast

Jharkhand Police has confirmed the arrest of two Maoists who were involved in a landmine blast that injured three security officials in the state's Khunti District.

A landmine blast near the Murhu police station in Kotna Village injured three officers engaged in anti-Maoist operations. The blast took place as soon as their patrol car reached the village.

The arrested Maoists belong to rebel People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI).

"Yesterday, in the morning, at around 7a.m. (IST), a landmine blast was carried out by a PLFI group, when a police party led by Praveen Jha was there. Following that, there was a face-off and two Maoists were arrested," said Superintendent of Police, Anish Gupta.

Police have recovered a rifle, three bullets and mobile phones from the arrested Maoists.

The arrested insurgents revealed that other people were also involved in the blast and a search operation is going on for around 25 to 30 Maoists.

"Arrested PLFI Maoists have accepted that they carried out the blast. On their tip-off, we are now conducting search operations in the region and we are searching to arrest all the militants involved in the planning and execution of this incident," said Gupta.