A police constable was killed and another injured seriously when suspected People's War Naxalites exploded a landmine in Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh on Friday evening.

A police spokesman said the incident took place around 1600 IST near Pendaintijollu village under Neelakanthapuram police station limits, a few kilometers from the Andhra-Orissa border.

A 20-member special police party was on a routine combing operation in the deep forest area, when the Naxalites, who were waiting nearby, ambushed them by triggering the landmine. There was an exchange of fire for some time soon after the blast.

Police constable S S N Reddy (35) died on the spot and constable Jami Raghu Babu was grievously injured. He was shifted to Vizianagaram government hospital.

The police suspected the involvement of Abiri local guerilla squad of the PWG behind the incident.