VISAKHAPATNAM: A bomb disposal squad of Visakhapatnam rural police on Tuesday blasted two landmines, which were planted by banned Maoists in the interior Kumada village of Munchingput mandal in Visakhapatnam agency. The squad blasted the landmines after finding that the mines could not be defused.
According to a rural police release, acting on a tip-off, the police found the landmines planted on the BT Road near Kumuda village. Police said that the bomb disposal squad, which was sent to the spot found the landmines planted three feet below the ground. After a thorough examination, the team found that there was no chance of defusing the landmines. Taking all necessary precautions, the team blasted the landmines. As per the police team, each landmine weighed about 20 kg.
Superintendent of police (Visakhapatnam-Rural) Rahul Dev Sharma said that the Maoists had planted the landmines with an intention to harm the police but these explosives will also be a threat to the tribals, who generally go to weekly fairs. “There are a number of cases, where the Maoists have targeted police and caused threat to tribals by blasting the jeeps and vehicles. The Red rebels should drop such ideas and surrender,” added Rahul Dev Sharma.
Police sources said that being the People’s Liberation Guerilla Army (PLGA) week, a huge police force had already been deployed in the agency areas of Visakhapatnam, including Maoist hotbeds.