Ranchi: Anti-Maoist operations in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district have intensified, even as another security personnel was injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast on Thursday — the second such incident within 24 hours.
The latest explosion occurred during a search operation in the dense Saranda forest, when a जवान reportedly stepped on a pressure-triggered IED planted underground by Maoists. The blast caused severe injuries to his leg and other parts of the body. Due to the critical nature of his condition, he was airlifted to Ranchi for advanced medical treatment.
This comes a day after a major encounter in the Baliba forest under the Chhotanagra police station area in Manoharpur, where security forces engaged Maoists in a gunfight that lasted nearly three-and-a-half hours. During that operation, five personnel, including Inspector Satya Prakash of the CoBRA 205 Battalion, were injured in an IED explosion.
The other injured personnel were identified as Shailesh Kumar Dubey, Uttam Senapati, Jitendra Kumar Rai, and Prem Kumar. All were airlifted to Ranchi on Wednesday evening for treatment.
Security agencies believe the Saranda region remains a stronghold of dreaded Maoist leader Misir Besra, who carries a bounty of Rs one crore. While there are indications that some Maoists may have been injured or killed during Wednesday’s encounter, there has been no official confirmation so far.
Officials noted that the number of active Maoists in the region has reportedly dropped to below 50, pushing them to increasingly rely on IED attacks to target security forces.
Following the Union Home Ministry’s directive to eliminate Maoist activity, operations have been ramped up across Jharkhand. Thousands of personnel have been deployed in forested areas, with joint teams of CoBRA, Jharkhand Jaguar, and district police conducting intensive search operations. The Saranda region remains on high alert.
Meanwhile, the series of blasts and ongoing encounters have created an atmosphere of fear among residents of nearby villages.
With inputs from IANS