West Singhbhum: 16 explosive devices recovered in joint operation

Jamshedpur: In a significant breakthrough against left-wing extremism, security forces recovered and neutralised a cache of powerful explosives planted by CPI (Maoist) operatives in the dense forest hills of Kotsona and Lanji under Toklo police station limits under West Singhbhum.

Acting on precise intelligence inputs received late on Sunday, a high-level joint operation was launched early Monday morning. The team comprised personnel from Chaibasa Police, Saraikela-Kharsawan Police, Jharkhand Jaguar, and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).

During the extensive combing operation, security personnel detected 16 powerful EADs (each weighing approximately 2 kg) strategically buried in the forested terrain bordering Toklo and Dalbhanga. According to officials, the explosives were rigged to target patrolling teams and disrupt ongoing counterinsurgency efforts.

Rakesh Ranjan, Superintendent of Police, West Singhbhum, Chaibasa, said the operation was based on credible intelligence that a large cache of ammunition and improvised explosive devices had been concealed by top leaders of the banned CPI (Maoist), including Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu, Anal, Asim Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohara, Chandan Lohara, Amit Hansda alias Uptan, Jaikant, and Rapa Munda. These operatives, along with their armed squads, have been actively moving in the Saranda and Kolhan forests to execute subversive attacks against security forces.

“The recovery and safe destruction of the explosives have averted major casualties. This is a deliberate attempt by Maoist factions to hinder the sustained anti-Naxal operations and target security personnel with hidden IEDs,” the SP said.

Once the devices were located, the Bomb Disposal Squad was called in. Given the high risk, the explosives were carefully neutralised at the site to ensure the safety of the operation teams and prevent any collateral damage. Officials described the explosives as capable of inflicting severe harm if detonated.

According to police sources, the joint operation was meticulously coordinated to cover the forested border areas of West Singhbhum and adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan districts. The teams moved in predawn hours to prevent Naxal lookouts from raising an alert.

The recovery underscores the persistent threat posed by Naxal outfits despite sustained security deployments. Security agencies believe that the top CPI (Maoist) leaders remain active across the Kolhan region and are attempting to regroup and replenish supplies in remote terrain to carry out targeted strikes.

Senior officers confirmed that further search and area domination operations are underway to locate additional arms dumps and apprehend Maoist cadres. The forested hills and deep gorges of Saranda have historically been strongholds of the CPI (Maoist), with intermittent violence over the past decades.

Monday’s successful recovery marks one of the largest single-day seizures of planted explosives in recent months. Officials described it as a testament to the coordination between the district police forces, CRPF, and elite Jharkhand Jaguar units.