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7 cops killed as Naxals blast landmine

Seven policemen and a civilian were killed and seven other constables injured in a landmine blast, triggered by Naxalites of the banned People's War Group near Piloila village in Medak district of Andhra Pradesh today.

The blast occurred when the police party, accompanied by the civilian, was going to the village on foot to investigate the blasting of the village sarpanch's house. The latter belonged to the ruling Telugu Desam Party.

The dead include a deputy superintendent of police. The injured constables are said to be out of danger.

The police said the Naxalites belonged to the PWG's Narsapur Dalam.

With today's attack, the number of policemen killed in Naxalite violence has risen to 49 this year. The PWG, the most militant of the Naxalite groups in the state, has killed about 140 civilians so far this year.

The Andhra Pradesh government has been contemplating fresh legislation to provide more powers to the police to counter the growing Naxalite violence.

In all, 132 PWG armed squads operate in the state, mostly in the backward regions of Telangana. Forty-five companies of central paramilitary forces assist the state police in tackling the Naxalite menace.

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