Sasaram: Eleven policemen and a civilian driver were killed in a landmine blast triggered by suspected People's War activists in Bihar's Rohtas district on September 8, state's Director General of Police D P Ojha said.

Ojha said those killed included the Officer in-charge of Chutia police station Vijay Kumar Tudu, eight constables of the district police, two Bihar Military Police jawans besides the civilian driver of the vehicle.

The incident occurred near Dabua Mode (turn) when Tudu, who was transferred to Tilauthu police station recently, accompanied by the policemen was going to join duty, D I G (Shahabad range) K K bhatt told reporters.

The blast was so powerful that the vehicle was blown to smithereens and all the occupants were killed on the spot.

District police Superintendent Bachchu Singh Meena has rushed to the spot with reinforcements, Bhatt said before leaving for the site.

A massive manhunt has been launched with the assistance of Central para-military forces.

PTI