Maoists kill 12 police officers in India

DANTEWADA, India, June 21 (UPI) -- A landmine planted by Maoist militants in northeastern India detonated as a truck carrying security personnel passed, killed a dozen troops, officials said.

The surviving troops responded to the attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh, killing seven suspected militants, Indo-Asian News Service reported Sunday.

Besides the security personnel killed, about a dozen others were wounded, the news agency said. The truck carried about 40 troops.

"Despite being hit by a massive blast, the jawans showed bravery and a fair amount of courage and retaliated against the Maoists, who were in dozens and armed with sophisticated weapons," T.J. Longkumer, inspector general of police at Bastar, said.