Jharkhand: CRPF soldier martyred in an IED blast triggered by Maoist in West Singhbhum

A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Jawan was martyred after he succumbed to his injuries in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast triggered by the Maoist on Friday September 29, informed CRPF Jharkhand sector in a tweet.

According to the reports the soldier identified as Rajesh Kumar of CRPF’s Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) unit succumbed to his injuries in Ranchi on Friday. The CRPF personnel was airlifted along with an Inspector of the same unit after both of them sustained serious injuries in an IED blast triggered by the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist) on Thursday, September 28.

Deepest condolences !! https://t.co/0xjQVYf8Ft

— Jharkhand Sector CRPF (@CRPF_Jharkhand) September 29, 2023

The blast triggered when a joint team of security forces of personnel from CRPF’s Cobra unit, Jharkhand Jaguar, a counter-insurgency specialized unit of the Jharkhand police, along with Chaibasa police was out on a combing operation in hill forest region between Tumbahaka and Surajamburu villages under Maoist-hit Tonto police station limits of Jharkhand.

It’s been reported that during the combining operation constable Rajesh Kumar trampled upon one of the IEDs planted by the Maoist triggering a powerful blast. It’s been learnt that during the operation, the security personnel had also unearthed IEDs, spike holes and hundreds of spikes planted by the ultras to harm the search parties of security personnel.

Core Maoist zone

It is to be noted that the Tonto police station falls under the core Maoist zone of Kolhan where the Maoist still have a strong presence. The region is considered to be one of the safest hideouts of the Maoist after they were forced to retreat from the Budha Pahad region, a Maoist bastion for over three decades.

It is being speculated that many top commanders of the outlawed CPI Maoist, including the infamous Mishir Besra, Anal da alias Ramesh have also taken shelter in the region in view of which continuous search operations are being conducted by the security forces in Tonto and other adjoining regions.

However, the ultras had planted IEDs and had also covered the hilly forest area with spikes and spike holes to halt the advancing forces near their hideouts leading to a number of casualties of civilians and security personnel in the last few months.

Casualties of civilians and security personnel

It is to be noted that a total of 29 security personnel have been injured while as many as three have been  martyred during separate search operations conducted in the region since November last year. At the same time the civilian casualties due to seperate IED blasts occurred in the region stands at 17.

Earlier, a 14-year-old boy was also killed in an IED blast in the same region. According to the reports, the deceased, who was later identified as Naara Koda (14), a resident of Banglasai tola of Rengrahatu, had gone to the nearby forest to pluck tendu patta leaves. He accidentally stepped over the IED planted by the Maoist triggering a powerful blast in which he got killed.

In another incident an elderly man identified as Jaina Koda, a resident of Regrahattu, was also killed in a similar blast triggered by the Maoist in the Regarhattu region under Tonto police station limits. It was learnt that the blast occurred when Koda, along with his son, had gone to the nearby forest area to collect forest produce.

In another case a 60-year-old woman was also killed in an IED blast triggered by the Maoist in the forest of Jamargadha under Goilakora police station limits of West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand on April 28.

The incident occurred around 7 am when the deceased woman was collecting Tendu Patta leaves in the nearby forest when she accidentally stepped over a pressure IED planted by the Ultras and died on the spot. The deceased was later identified as Gangi Surin, a resident of Patrahatu Toga village under Goilkera police station limits. It was then reported that the woman was accompanied by two other women who merely escaped the deadly explosion.