Jamshedpur, Feb 2: Three CRPF jawans were injured in an IED blast in the Porahat forest division under the Goelkera police station area of West Singhbhum district about 180 km away from here on Thursday morning. The injured identified as Rakesh Pathak, Pankaj Yadav and BD Guda were airlifted to Ranchi for treatment at a hospital there in the state capital.
There has been a significant rise in gun battles between security forces and Maoists in Left-wing insurgency-hit from the past few days.
Today’s blast was triggered by the CPI-Maoist rebels at Merelgeda jungle while the victims belonging to the 60 battalions of the CRPF were carrying out an anti-insurgency operation at about 11.00 am today.
The West Singhbhum district superintendent of police, Ashutosh Shekhar confirmed the IED blast resulted in injuries to three jawans during an anti-insurgency operation in the Porahat forest. “ We have beefed up the area. The injured have been airlifted to Ranchi for immediate medical care. The operation is still on,” said Shekhar.
Notably, the Naxals, are camping in Kolhan and Porahat forest divisions for about one month. They have been triggering IEDs in the peripheral areas of those two forest divisions, and have so far triggered half-a-dozen IEDs, resulting in injuries to as many as 14 jawans belonging to the paramilitary forces. Security has been beefed up to flush them out.
The Naxals have also targeted civilians in their evil design, apparently in frustration during the onslaught which began on January 11.
An official revealed that presently the forces are focusing on detecting the landmines that the Naxals have laid across the Tirulposi, Digha, Thalkobad and Jeraikela in the buffer zone of the Saranda forest.
“The jawans while carrying out the combing operation in the dense jungle concentrate on the landmines also. He said having detected a landmine or any other IED, the jawans were prompt to snap off the wires connected to the explosive. After getting the place marked with something, we arrange for the bomb’s explosion,” the senior paramilitary officer said.
While speaking about the operation, said that the operation continues, and it can be said only after the condition was reviewed. He said they would this evening review the whole situation at West Singhbhum, and decide whether to continue the operation or retreat.
“The forces have been in the dense jungle for the past four days, and they are carrying out the operation in the most adverse conditions, without worrying about proper food and shelter. The continuation of the operation will depend upon the urgency of the prevailing situation, said the official.