Three jawans of the elite Special Operations Group (SOG) were martyred in a landmine explosion triggered by Maoists in Malkangiri district on Saturday.
The incident occurred at the Bogapadar hill under the Mathili police station when a team of SOG personnel were carrying out a combing operation based on intelligence inputs about the presence of Red rebels in the area.
Sources said that around 30 to 40 ultras, who were in a hideout, had planted the landmine suspecting a search operation by security forces. Later, they triggered the landmine when they spotted the SOG personnel. Following the landmine explosion, a gun battle also ensued between the jawans and Maoists.
The injured security personnel had been rushed to the nearby BSF camp for treatment, but they succumbed to the injuries, the sources added.Later, a joint combing operation by the SOG and the anti-Maoist forces of Chhattisgarh was conducted in the area.