Jawans escape landmine blast in Odisha's Malkangiri

About 12 BSF jawans and some state police personnel today had a narrow escape as a landmine planted by Maoists exploded close to a road immediately after the platoon passed the way in Malkangiri district.
The incident took place at Telrai chowk close to Kalimela-Motu main road when the BSF jawans were on their way for combing operation in the area, Malkangiri SP Akhileswar Singh said.
Singh said the BSF jawans along with local district police were pressed into patrolling duty ahead of Independence Day. As the Maoists have given a call to observe August 15 as a Black Day, the security personnel were put on alert to foil their bid to create any untoward incident.

"The blast occurred as a stone fell from a hill due to heavy rain. The Maoists could not use the remote to trigger the landmine," Singh said. The jawans have collected small particles of explosive materials for examination.
The impact of the explosion could be judged from the big hole created due to blasting of the landmine, the SP said.