Four Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel, including one sub-inspector, were killed in a powerful landmine blast this evening in Maoist-infested Narayanpur district of Bastar region in Chhattisgarh.

Confirming the incident, DIG Police (Kanker Range) Pawan Deo said it occurred at about 5 pm when the security personnel were on their way from Narayanpur to Kurasnar. The victims have been identified as Sub-Inspector Roshan Kumar Minj, constables Jai Kumar, Biju Kumar and Mushtak Ahmed.

"The deceased were on two motorcycles and were conducting a routine road-opening exercise. When the two motorcycles approached a culvert in the area, the Naxalite cadres who were waiting in ambush exploded the landmine, killing the four on the spot," said the DIG. The site of the incident is about seven kilometres from the district headquarters of Narayanpur. The blast left a huge crater on the road, added Deo.

Additional police forces have been rushed to the area and a combing operation has been launched.