Ranchi: A Central Reserve Police Force [CRPF] head constable lost his life while an inspector and an ASI was gravely injured in back to back Improvised Explosive Device [IED] explosions triggered by the Maoists in Saranda forest area of Jharkhand, police said on October 11.
The explosion took place when a team of security personnel was out on a search operation under the jurisdiction of Jaraikela police station limits of Chaibasa on late evening October 10.
An anti-Maoist campaign was launched in the forest area by the personnel of 60th battalion of CRPF. An IED was triggered by the Naxals when the team was combing the forest area, injuring inspector Kaushal Kumar Mishra. He was immediately evacuated and rushed to Raurkela for treatment, where he is being treated.
Later the Naxals triggered another IED blast leading to serious injuries to an ASI and a head constable Mahendra Laskar. Both the injured men were rushed to Rourkela where head constable Laskar succumbed to his injuries. The martyred head constable was a resident of Assam.
Jharkhand | In the Saranda forest area under the Jaraikela police station in Chaibasa, CRPF personnel from the 60th Battalion, including an inspector, an ASI and a head constable, were injured in two IED blasts. The injured were taken to Rourkela for treatment. Head Constable…
— ANI (@ANI) October 11, 2025
The injured ASI has been identified as Ramkrishna Gagrai, a resident of the Kharsawan district of Jharkhand. His condition reportedly remains to be critical.
The security personnel have cordoned off the area and an intensive search operation is being conducted in the vicinity of the site.
The Saranda forest region is considered to be the last held bastion of Maoists in Jharkhand following the fall of their erstwhile strongholds like Budha Pahad and Parasnath Hills.
Many top Naxal leaders including politbureau member Misir Besra is believed to have taken shelter and operating from the Saranda forest area of West Singhbhum .
Security forces have amplified anti-Maoist operations in Jharkhand, neutralising over 30 Naxals in separate gun battles that have taken place this year. Two districts, West Singhbhum and Latehar are among the 18 Maoist-affected districts in the country, according to Union Government.
