Bhubaneswar, Oct. 29 -- A nine-year-old girl was killed in an IED explosion planted by Maoists inside Jharkhand's Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district, close to the Odisha border. The minor was identified as a native of the nearby Digha village.

According to sources, the girl died on the spot while collecting leaves in the forest on Wednesday morning.

Reports added that the child had gone with a local woman to collect forest produce. According to police sources, the IED, suspected to have been planted earlier by Maoist cadres to target security patrols, went off when the girl unknowingly stepped on it.

The powerful blast instantly claimed her life, leaving the accompanying woman severely shaken but unhurt. Following reports of the...