A search operation aimed at eliminating Naxal activity is ongoing in the Saranda forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. On Friday, the focus was the dense forests of Tiralposi and Digha in the Jaraikela area. During the operation, two soldiers from the CRPF were injured in an IED explosion. The injured soldiers are from the Cobra 209 Battalion and have been identified as Ram Pravesh Singh and Chhotu Kachhap.
Following the blast, both soldiers were critically injured. They were immediately airlifted from the Saranda forest to Raj Hospital in Ranchi, the state capital of Jharkhand, for treatment. Medical personnel report that both soldiers are now out of immediate danger. Following the admission of the injured soldiers to the Ranchi hospital, CRPF IG Saket Singh and Ranchi Range IG Manoj Kaushik visited the hospital to meet with the injured soldiers.
Simultaneously, security forces engaged in the ongoing anti-Naxal operation in Saranda, West Singhbhum, destroyed three Naxal bunkers. Several items used by the Naxals were also recovered from these bunkers.
The search operation was initiated on August 7 by a joint team from the Chaibasa Police and the Cobra 209 Battalion, following intelligence reports of Naxal movement in the Jaraikela forest area of West Singhbhum. On Friday, the security forces successfully demolished three bunkers constructed by the Naxals near Hedekuli.
The IED blast occurred during the search operation, specifically between Tiralposi and Digha. The blast resulted in injuries to Ram Pravesh Singh and Constable Chhotu Kachhap, both from the CRPF Cobra 209 Battalion. They were subsequently airlifted from Saranda forest to Raj Hospital in Ranchi for medical attention. Their treatment is currently ongoing.
This incident follows an earlier event on April 12 in the Saranda forest of West Singhbhum. During an operation against Naxals in the Chhotanagra and Jaraikela areas, an IED planted by Naxals exploded, leading to the martyrdom of Jharkhand Jaguar jawan Constable Sunil Dhan and causing serious injuries to Head Constable Vishnu Saini of the Cobra 203 Battalion.