Ten security personnel were killed and as many injured in a landmine explosion triggered by Maoists in India's eastern coastal state Orissa's
Koraput district on Sunday, police said.
The landmine exploded at Tanginiguda when a van
carrying personnel of the elite anti-naxalite Special Operation Group (SOG) was returning from an operation from adjacent Malkangiri district.
The personnel belonged to SOG's road clearing wing.
The injured were admitted to nearby hospitals.
Additional force and medical team had been sent to the spot, about 55 km from here.
Sources said a brief exchange of fire also took place between the security personnel and the rebels near the blast site and details were awaited.
The incident took place despite strict instruction to the jawans to walk down leaving their vehicle while crossing Govindpali Ghati area, sources said.