INDIA: At least nine paramilitary soldiers were killed yesterday in eastern India by a landmine placed by Maoist rebels known as Naxalites.

Police officer DM Awasthi said the soldiers were travelling between camps in the Sukma area of Chhattisgarh state when their vehicle drove over the mine. Two other soldiers were wounded in the blast.

The Naxalites control swathes of central and eastern India, claiming to be fighting for jobs, land and natural resources wealth for poor and indigenous communities.