RAIPUR, India, May 28 (Reuters) - Landmines planted by Maoist rebels killed at least nine police officers in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh on Monday, police said.

The motorcycle-borne policemen were patrolling a wooded area in the state's southern Bastar region when the Maoists set off a series of landmines.

Two policemen were wounded in the attack. The rebels made off with 12 police rifles.

"We have nine casualties in coordinated, simultaneous landmine blasts," Girdhari Nayak, police inspector general, told Reuters.

In a separate incident, the guerrillas killed a federal policeman on Monday.

Chhattisgarh is one of 13 Indian states hit hard by Maoist militants, who launched an armed movement in 1967 claiming to fight for the rights of poor peasants and landless labourers.

The conflict has killed thousands of people, including hundreds of policemen.

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