Chaibasa, Ap 6: A jawan of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was critically injured on Monday after stepping on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) during an anti-Naxal operation in the Saranda forest of West Singhbhum district, officials said.
The incident occurred during an ongoing search operation by security forces to flush out Maoist cadres hiding in the dense forests of Chaibasa. According to officials, the jawan inadvertently stepped on a pressure-activated IED planted along a forest track frequently used by patrol teams, triggering a powerful explosion.
The injured personnel sustained severe injuries and was immediately evacuated from the spot. He was later airlifted to Ranchi, where he is undergoing treatment at a specialized medical facility.
Officials confirmed that anti-Naxal operations in the Saranda forest region are still underway, with intermittent encounters being reported between security forces and Maoist groups. The increasing use of IEDs by insurgents has emerged as a major challenge, particularly in dense forest areas where detection remains difficult.
Security agencies said Maoist groups have stepped up the use of explosives in recent months following significant losses. In January, security forces neutralized 17 Maoists in a major operation in the region, dealing a major setback to the insurgent network.
Intelligence inputs suggest that Maoists, in retaliation, have planted a large number of IEDs along forest routes and approach roads to target security personnel.
The Saranda forest belt has witnessed multiple such incidents in recent weeks. Between February and March, at least three major IED blasts were reported, resulting in the death of a civilian and injuries to two personnel of the elite COBRA Battalion.
Earlier, on March 1, Assistant Commandant Ajay Mallick was critically injured in a similar blast during a combing operation in the same region.
Following Monday’s incident, a high alert has been sounded across Chaibasa and adjoining Naxal-affected areas. Security forces have intensified area domination exercises, route sanitization drives, and search operations to detect and defuse hidden explosives.
Officials said operations will continue with a focus on minimizing casualties while maintaining sustained pressure on Maoist groups to dismantle their operational capabilities in the region.
