Five Christians killed as ambulance blown up in Kandhamal

Terror has returned to Kandhamal in Orissa, the epicenter of violence against Christians in 2008.

At least five persons, including two women were killed as suspected Maoists blew up an ambulance on Saturday.

"We suspect the hand of the CPI (Maoist) in the landmine blast. A search operation is on," Kandhamal superintendent of police Pravin Kumar said.

According to reports, the blast took place in a forested area near Brahmanigaon village as the victims were returning from a government hospital in Berhampur.

The dead included a three-year-old girl, a woman health worker and the driver of the vehicle.

The Indian Express reported that all the victims were Dalits and tribal Christians.

It is still to be ascertained whether the Ambulance was the target. No one has so far claimed responsibility for the attack.

Police sources however say Maoists might have mistook the ambulance for a police vehicle.

A deputy superintendent of police had reportedly come to Brahmanigaon to investigate the killing of a contractor in the area.

Kandhamal, about 200 km from Bhubaneswar, witnessed widespread violence after the murder of VHP leader Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and four of his aides at his ashram on Aug 23, 2008.