Five police personnel and two civilians have been killed in a Maoist attack at Palamu in India's Jharkhand yesterday. Around eight persons have been injured, reports NDTV.

The policemen were going towards the Kalapahari area in a convoy around 5:00pm as part of reinforcements when a landmine exploded and the Tata- 407 vehicle carrying them blew up.

The Jharkhand Police had corned a group of Maoist in Kalaphari area in Chattarpur Block of Palamu district two days ago. The police and Maoists have since been engaged in a gun battle.

"This afternoon, at about 2:00pm, there was heavy exchange of fire between the forces and Maoists and we were rushing in reinforcements, when they were attacked," a senior Jharkhand Police officer said.

The injured men have been taken to Daltonganj. Efforts are on to take the critical ones to Ranchi by chopper tonight.