A head constable of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was killed and two other personnel were injured in IED blasts in Jharkhand on Friday night. The incident occurred during an anti-Naxal operation in the Saranda forest, a known Maoist stronghold, within the West Singhbhum district.
The deceased has been identified as Head Constable Mahendra Laskar, a 45-year-old native of Nagaon district in Assam, belonging to the 60th Battalion of the CRPF. Inspector Kaushal Kumar Mishra and Sub-Inspector Ramchandra Gogi were also seriously injured in the blast. Both are currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Rourkela, Odisha; their condition is serious but stable.
According to reports, two IED blasts took place as the joint team of CRPF and Jharkhand Police were conducting a search operation in the Saranda forest. The blasts, suspectedly triggered by Naxalites, targeted the security forces. Inspector Mishra was wounded in the first blast, while Head Constable Laskar and ASI Gogi were hit by the second.
Following the explosions, security forces cordoned off the area and intensified combing operations to apprehend those responsible for the attack. West Singhbhum SP Amit Renu stated that operations have been ramped up to "hunt down the culprits responsible for the blasts".
Head Constable Laskar's body was brought to Ranchi, where a wreath-laying ceremony was held at the CRPF camp in Dhurwa. High-ranking officials, including Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar and Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth, paid tribute to the fallen soldier. Condolences have poured in from across states, with Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren and Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma expressing their grief. Sarma posted on X, stating, "The nation will remember his sacrifice with gratitude".
The incident occurred amidst a 'resistance week' observed by the banned CPI (Maoist) in Jharkhand, which began on October 8th. The outfit has also called for a bandh on October 15th. In response, the Jharkhand Police have strengthened security measures across the state. Inspector General (Operations) Michael Raj had stated that multiple battalions of the CRPF and Jharkhand Armed Police have been deployed to bolster security.
This IED blast is part of a series of similar incidents in the Saranda region. According to police data, between March and October of this year, three security personnel have been killed and nine others injured in IED blasts in the area. The federal government has stated its resolve to eradicate Naxalism before March 31, 2026.
