Chaibasa (Jharkhand) — In a tragic turn of events, a jawan of the elite Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) lost his life after being bitten by a venomous snake during an anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district late Tuesday night.
The deceased jawan, identified as Sandeep Kumar, was part of the 209 CoBRA battalion engaged in a combing operation in the dense Nurdha jungle area under Chotanagra police station limits. According to officials, Kumar was bitten by a cobra while the unit was on patrol.
Despite immediate efforts by his colleagues to rush him to medical facilities, Kumar succumbed to the snakebite during treatment. Security officials confirmed the incident, calling it an “unforeseen tragedy” that highlights the extreme risks faced by personnel deployed in hostile forest terrain.
Senior police officers paid tribute to the jawan, noting his dedication and courage in counter-insurgency operations. “The loss of Jawan Sandeep Kumar is deeply saddening. He laid down his life in the line of duty. The force and the nation stand with his family in this hour of grief,” said a statement issued by the CRPF.
The CoBRA battalion, a specialized unit of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), is tasked with countering Maoist insurgency in some of India’s most difficult terrains. Apart from facing armed Naxal cadres, the personnel often contend with natural dangers, including wild animals and venomous reptiles in remote jungle regions.
Officials said Kumar’s mortal remains will be sent to his native village with full honors. A wreath-laying ceremony is expected to be held at the battalion headquarters before his final rites.