Ten policemen were killed when their vehicle struck a land mine "planted by Maoist rebels" in eastern India, officials said on Sunday.

The attack in forested Koraput district of mineral-rich Orissa state, about 550 kms (340 miles) southwest of the state capital Bhubaneshwar, took place when security personnel were on a patrol as part of operations against the insurgents, they said.

The attack also took place as Home Minister P. Chidambaram visited a rebel stronghold in the neighbouring state of West Bengal where he reviewed the progress of the government's anti-Maoist offensive.

"We are confirming ten deaths, but it may go up" senior police official Sanjeeb Panda Panda told Reuters.

The Maoist insurgency began as a peasant uprising in 1967 and has now spread to 20 of India's 28 states.


Agencies