Ten security personnel, including five Central Reserve Police Force jawans, were killed and eight injured when two of their vehicles -- a jeep and a van -- were blown up by a landmine set off by suspected naxalites in Malkangiri district of Orissa on Wednesday afternoon.
The blast took place when the vehicles, which were on a routine patrol, reached a culvert, Inspector General of Police (Operations) M M Praharaj said.
The victims included five policemen, among whom were officer-in-charge Sada Hantal and assistant sub-inspector Silamani Mallick of the Kalimela police station, sources said.
The injured were being treated at a government hospital at Malkangiri, 50 km away from the site of the blast.
The government announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh to the next of kin of those killed.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also sanctioned Rs 1 lakh to the families from his relief fund.
The injured will be treated for free and a member of each affected family will be provided employment, an official release said.
In case there was no suitable candidate, the family will continue to get salary till the date of retirement of the deceased policemen.
