Raipur: As many as 3 jawans sustained injuries after they accidently came in contact with a pressure Improvised Explosive Device [IED] planted by Naxals in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district, said police on October 13.
The explosion took place in the forest area along the Kandlaparti village under the jurisdiction of Bhopalpattnam police station, injuring three personnel of Special Task Force [STF].
The injured jawan were administered primarily treatment and subsequently taken to Bijapur district hospital. The incident occurred when a team of STF, a unit of the state police was out on an area domination exercise.
Security personnel have launched a search operation in the area after the explosion.
A jawan of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action [CoBRA] was injured in a similar IED explosion in Usur area of Bijapur on October 11.
In another incident, a minor boy had also sustained injuries after an IED planted by Maoists exploded under Gangloor police station. The boy was evacuated immediately and shifted to Bijapur for treatment.
Notably, IEDs planted by Maoists in forest areas often led to causalities among security personnel and civilians.
Maoists torch mobile tower in Saranda of West Singhbhum
In a related development, a group of over dozen Maoists torched a mobile tower and a generator near the Kalbonga village of West Singhbhum district on Sunday.
The attack comes amidst intensified anti-Maoist campaign of security forces in the remote pockets of Saranda forest region.
The arson incident follows back to back IED explosions triggered by Naxals, causing grave injuries to 3 security personnel on October 10.
The explosions took place when a team of Central Reserve Police Force [CRPF] and police was out on a search operation under the jurisdiction of Jaraikela police station limits of Chaibasa on late evening.
The injured personnel were rushed to medical facility at Rourkela. One of the injured jawan, head constable Mahendra Laskar however succumbs to his injuries later. He was a resident of Assam.
The other two injured jawans, Inspector Kaushal Kumar Mishra, who hails from Bihar and ASI Ramkrishna Gagrai, a resident of the Kharsawan district of Jharkhand were subsequently referred to AIIMS, Delhi where they are being treated. Tragically, Mishra’s left leg has to be amputated below the knee.
Saranda forest region is said to be the only remaining stronghold of Maoists in Jharkhand following security forces’ successful campaign at Budha Pahad and Parasnath Hills. Many top Naxal leaders including politbureau member Misir Besra is believed to be operating from Saranda where the forces have amped up operations in recent months.
