Jharkhand blast kills 12 soldiers

At least 12 paramilitary soldiers have been killed in the eastern Indian state of Jharkhand in a mine blast, the authorities say.

The explosion was in the district of Chatra, more than 100 kms from the state capital, Ranchi.

Soldiers of the Central Reserve Police Forcer were searching for left-wing rebels in a forest area at the time.

Police Inspector General Rajeev Kumar said that rebels of the Communist Party of India Maoist were behind the attack.

He told the BBC that the dead included a deputy superintendent of the paramilitary force.

Thirteen civilians were killed last month in an attack by suspected rebels in the state's Girdih district.