Agartala: Three Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans and a civilian driver were killed in a landmine blast triggered by suspected insurgents of All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF) at Nailafa Bari area of Assam-Agartala national highway in West Tripura district on October 13, police said.

A convoy carrying CRPF jawans, who were engaged to provide security cover to vehicles on the national highway, was blown away when suspected ATTF insurgents triggered the landmine blast at the area around 11:30 hours (IST), police said.

Two CRPF jawans, identified as B Srikumar, R N Perumal and the driver of the hired vehicle, Shilu Das, died on the spot, they said.

Police said the ATTF insurgents also fired upon the vehicle from a hill-top but it was retaliated by the jawans of other convoy who reached the area on hearing sound of the explosion.

Another jawan K S Prakash succumbed to his injuries on way to hospital, police said, adding all belong to 42 Battalion of CRPF.

No arms and ammunition were looted by the ultras, they said.

In the face of heavy retaliation, the insurgents managed to escape from the spot taking advantage of the forest cover, police said.

Senior officials of CRPF and police has rushed to the spot and launched a combing operation to track down the insurgents.

PTI