West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan had a narrow escape Sunday, when a landmine exploded in the Maoist-infested west Midnapore district, wounding six policemen, minutes after their convoy passed through the area.
Confirming the incident, police say, a 'directional landmine' blast took place at Baroa, 17 km from Salboni, from where Buddhadeb, Paswan, state Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and industrialist Sajjan Jindal were returning after laying the foundation stone of Jindal Steel Works plant.
The dignitaries escaped unhurt but, six policemen sustained injuries in the blast, the condition of at least one is being reported as critical.
The impact of the powerful blast snapped an overhead high tension line which fell on one of the spare pilot cars and as a result the vehicle was partially burnt, say police officials.
Senior police officials say a Maoist hand in the blast is highly probable, as the district is known to be a Maoist stronghold.
The attack once again underlines the growing impunity of the rebels, as it came despite a huge presence of CPM and DYFI volunteers.
Refusing to confirm it as a lapse in the Chief Minister’s security senior police officials say they will be able to comment on the matter after initial investigations are completed.
Confirming the incident, police say, a 'directional landmine' blast took place at Baroa, 17 km from Salboni, from where Buddhadeb, Paswan, state Industry Minister Nirupam Sen and industrialist Sajjan Jindal were returning after laying the foundation stone of Jindal Steel Works plant.
The dignitaries escaped unhurt but, six policemen sustained injuries in the blast, the condition of at least one is being reported as critical.
The impact of the powerful blast snapped an overhead high tension line which fell on one of the spare pilot cars and as a result the vehicle was partially burnt, say police officials.
Senior police officials say a Maoist hand in the blast is highly probable, as the district is known to be a Maoist stronghold.
The attack once again underlines the growing impunity of the rebels, as it came despite a huge presence of CPM and DYFI volunteers.
Refusing to confirm it as a lapse in the Chief Minister’s security senior police officials say they will be able to comment on the matter after initial investigations are completed.
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