NEW DELHI, Nov 20: At least 17 Indian policemen were killed on Saturday when Maoist rebels blew up their bus in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh Inspector General of Police R. K. Tiwari said the rebels, known as Naxalites, had placed explosives beneath a small bridge over which the vehicle was due to pass.

Two police jeeps, moving ahead of the bus, crossed the bridge unharmed but the explosion occurred as the bus approached the bridge, he said.

Thirteen of the policemen died on the spot and another four en route to hospital.

The dead policemen were on their way to conduct a search operation in the area after other security force members were killed in a Maoist attack earlier in the week.-AFP