国际英语新闻:7 policemen killed in attack by leftwing rebels in central India

NEW DELHI, Jan. 27 (Xinhua) -- Seven policemen were killed and six others injured in an attack by suspected leftwing rebels in the Palamu district of the central Indian state of Jharkhand Wednesday evening, said local media.

The policemen were ambushed by suspected Naxal rebels with improvised explosive devices when returning to their base after a patrolling operation in a jungle area of the district, according to the reports.

One of the vehicles of the police convoy was blown up in the attack in what is said to be a hotbed of the rebels. Several other policemen also remained missing after the attack.

The attack took place at the Kasiyar village in Palamu district's Kala Pahar region. The injured were taken to hospital in the state capital Ranchi.

Reinforcement had been rushed to the spot and the senior police officers were monitoring the rescue operations, said HIndustan Times online.

The Naxal rebels are estimated at around 10,000 and are active in about 10 states in central and eastern India, mostly in poor rural areas.