Twelve people, including 11 policemen, were killed when People's War and Maoist Communist Centre terrorists triggered a landmine blast in Rohtas district, Bihar, on Monday.

Deputy Inspector General (Shahabad range) K K Bhatt said the terrorists of the two banned outfits, in a joint operation, set off the blast near Dabua in the forests of Kaimur range, ripping apart the private vehicle in which the policemen were travelling.

Officer in-charge of Chutia police station Vijay Kumar Tudu, accompanied by seven personnel of the district police, two Bihar Military Police jawans, a chowkidar and a civilian driver, was on his way to Tilauthu police station when the blast occurred.

The terrorists also took away six rifles, a revolver and a large quantity of ammunition, DIG (provisions) Rituraj said in Patna.

The explosion was so powerful that the vehicle was blown to smithereens.

Director General of Police (DGP) D P Ojha said in Patna that District Police Superintendent Bachchu Singh Meena had rushed to the site with reinforcements.

A combing operation had been launched with the assistance of central paramilitary forces after sealing off the district borders.

Vehicles coming into and leaving the district were being thoroughly searched and police of adjoining Kaimur, Aurangabad, Bhojpur, Buxar and Gaya districts had been alerted, he said.