What Happened to Two CRPF Jawans Injured in Maoist IED Blast in Jharkhand’s Chaibasa?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two CRPF jawans were critically injured in an IED blast in Jharkhand.
- The incident highlights the ongoing threat of Maoist violence.
- Security forces are ramping up operations in the area.
- Maoists frequently use IEDs to ambush security personnel.
- Several prominent Maoist leaders are active in the region.
Ranchi, Aug 8 (NationPress) Two members of the CRPF’s prestigious CoBRA unit sustained serious injuries due to an improvised explosive device (IED) detonation orchestrated by Maoists in the Digha region of Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district on Friday afternoon, as reported by officials.
The blast took place during a routine search and combing operation in the thick forests of the area, which has been historically known as a Maoist stronghold. The injured jawans were promptly evacuated and airlifted to Ranchi for critical medical attention.
Chaibasa Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan stated that law enforcement agencies have escalated their efforts in the region to eradicate Maoist groups who continue to operate in the isolated, wooded areas of Saranda and Kolhan.
According to authorities, Maoist militants often set up IEDs along forest trails and under paths to ambush patrolling security personnel. These devices are typically activated by movement, leading to potentially lethal injuries.
Friday’s incident marks the latest in a string of attacks that highlight the ongoing threat of Maoist violence in Jharkhand.
Just two days prior, an IED placed on the Karampada-Rengda railway track in the same district resulted in the death of a railway trackman.
In June, a CRPF jawan named Satyawan Kumar Singh was killed in a similar IED blast within the Saranda forest.
March was especially deadly, with three distinct IED explosions reported. A sub-inspector was killed in one of these blasts, while five other jawans and officers were injured in various incidents.
Security officials indicate that several prominent Maoist leaders -- including Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu, Anal, Asim Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, and Ashwin -- are believed to be active in the Saranda and Kolhan areas.
In the past three months, over a dozen Maoist weapon and ammunition caches have been located and destroyed in and around Chaibasa. These operations have resulted in the confiscation of a substantial stockpile of arms and explosives.