KOLKATA - Two civilians were killed and a paramilitary trooper was injured Thursday when landmines, planted by suspected Maoist guerrillas to disrupt elections, went off in West Bengal’s Maoist-affected districts.

Two civilians were killed in a landmine explosion targeting poll officials, who were returning from a forest area in the violence-hit West Midnapore district in the evening, Inspector General (Law and Order) Raj Kanojia told IANS.

‘The police have already reached the spot and are investigating the matter. We’re constantly in touch with our men out there. The blast took place near Jamboni area in the district,’ Kanojia said.

The blast occurred between Dahijuri and Baroshal, two Leftist insurgency-hit areas.

The landmine was triggered when a convoy of poll officials, escorted by police and paramilitary troopers, was passing through Kapaguri forest region.

A central paramilitary force trooper was injured in a low-intensity landmine blast in Balrampur area in the Maoist-hit Purulia district. The landmine exploded near a polling station.

‘The jawan was injured in his leg,’ Kanojia said.

Another landmine was defused by the police at Raidibera area of Purulia district.

Purulia, West Midnapore and Bankura are the three Maoist-affected districts located in western part of the state.