Ten security personnel were on Friday killed when Naxals blew up an anti-land mine vehicle they were travelling, in Katikalyan area of Dantewada district.
Seven Special Police Officers (SPO) and three police jawans were killed on the spot when their vehicle was tossed in the air by a powerful blast near Gatan village of the district, the police said.
As the vehicle reached a bridge near the village, Naxals triggered the blast and opened indiscriminate fire on them, they said.
Three injured have been rushed to a hospital in Bastar district headquarter, the police said.
Giving details of the incident, senior police officials said two police vehicles from the police headquarters were on their to Katikalyan area of the district.
As soon as they reached a bridge near Gatan village, the Naxals triggered a powerful landmine blast damaging the anti-landmine vehicle and opened indiscriminate fire at the police personnel.
The police force retaliated following which the Naxals fled from the spot.
The condition of the four injured jawans is critical, they said.
A strong police team has been rushed to the spot and another is scouting the jungles of the area to trace the Naxals.
The attack comes at a time when the Naxals are observing “Janpituri” week when they hold celebrations and also carry out attacks. The week is celebrated in the second week of June every year.
Dantewada is a Naxal hotbed. Two years back, Naxals had killed 76 CRPF jawans in an attack in the district.
Naxals have killed 30 police personnel in the state in 2011.