Blast kills 21 Nepal policemen

In a major attack on security  forces, 21 policemen were killed and 15 injured when the truck they were travelling in ran over a landmine planted by Maoist rebels. 

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The incident occurred at 9.30 am (local time) when a  security truck carrying Armed Police Force personnel ran over the landmine planted by the Maoists near Shumshergunj in Banke district, 520 km west of Kathmandu, Home Ministry spokesman Gopendra Bahadur Pandey said.

Fifteen security personnel were also injured during the incident, he said. The Maoists ran away as the security  forces launched counter-attack and search operations after the  incident.

The injured security personnel were airlifted to Kathmandu and admitted to Birendra Military Hospital in Chhauni for treatment.