Suspected Maoist rebels planted a landmine that killed five policemen and wounded four others in eastern India on Friday, a police spokesman said.The device was planted under a bridge in Latehar, a district in Jharkhand state.
It exploded when the officers' vehicle drove over it, killing five police instantly, said VH Deshmukh. Two of the injured were in critical condition.
Inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, the rebels have fought the government in several parts of India for more than four decades, demanding land and jobs for landless farmers and the poor.
The insurgents -- who often target police, soldiers and government officials who they see as representatives of the state -- have tapped into anger among the rural poor over being left out of the country's economic gains.
They are now present in 20 of India's 28 states and have an estimated 10,000 to 20,000 fighters, according to the Home Ministry. It announced plans this week to pump an additional $400 million toward the fight against the rebels.