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Ten security personnel were killed and as many injured in a landmine explosion triggered by Maoists in Orissa's Koraput district on Sunday, the police said.
The landmine exploded at Tanginiguda when a van carrying jawans of the elite anti-Naxalite Special Operation Group (SOG) was returning from an operation in Malkangiri district. The jawans belonged to SOG's road clearing wing. The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals.
Additional forces and a medical team have been sent to the spot, about 55 km from Koraput. Sources said a brief exchange of fire also took place between the security personnel and the rebels near the blast site and further details were awaited.
The incident took place despite strict instruction to the jawans to walk down leaving their vehicle while crossing Govindpali Ghati area, sources said.