A high-intensity blast triggered by Maoists killed five CRPF personnel, including an officer of the rank of deputy commandant, near Lalgarh in West Midnapore district of West Bengal on Wednesday. Another CRPF man was severely injured.
The attack came just a day after Union home minister P. Chidambaram reiterated his offer of unconditional talks if the Maoists observed a ceasefire for 72 hours. The Maoists chose to strike on the second day of their five-state bandh in West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.
Deputy commandant Vijay Pratap Singh, who was recently posted here from Kashmir and had taken charge of the Ramgarh CRPF camp, was returning from a visit to camps at Pingboni and Kadasole when the attack took place, West Bengal director-general of police Bhupinder Singh told reporters.
The patrolling party was moving in two Bolero vehicles. The explosion took place a few seconds after the first Bolero crossed Chowkisal, a village between Gwaltor and Lalgarh. The second vehicle faced the full impact of the explosion was carrying Vijay Pratap Singh and four CRPF constables, besides the driver.
The blast left a huge crater and reduced the car into a mangled mass of iron and steel, throwing it nine feet away from the spot.