In Jharkhand, one security forces personnel of Jharkhand Jaguar has succumbed to his injuries while another one of Cobra battalion has been severely injured in an encounter with the Naxalites during a search operation being conducted under Jaraikela police station in West Singhbhum district.
SP Ashutosh Shekhar has confirmed the incident and said that both the injured personnel Vishnu Saini of Cobra Battalion and Sunil Dhan of Jharkhand Jaguar were airlifted to Ranchi for better medical treatment where Sunil Dhan succumbed to his injuries.
Both the jawans were injured in an IED blast during the encounter with the naxals. Joint search operation by Cobra Battalion, CROF, Jharkhand Jaguar and Chaibasa police forces area still underway.
Meanwhile, six naxals have been arrested including two Subzonal commander of maoist organisation TPC in another search operation conducted by police forces against Naxals in Latehar district. SP Kumar Gaurav informed the media that four rifles, one automated revolver, one motorbike and more than one thousand live cartridges with naxal literature has been seized from the arrested naxals.
The incident occurred when security forces launched a search operation based on intelligence inputs about Naxal movements in the area. As the personnel went into the dense Radhapora forest, the Naxals ambushed them, triggering an IED blast followed by heavy gunfire.
Jaraikela police in a statement said, “In a forested area located between the border of Chhotanagra and Jaraikela police stations, Naxalites opened fire and triggered an IED targeting security forces during an operation on Saturday. In response, security forces retaliated. However, the Maoists took advantage of the dense forests to escape.”
Jharkhand Governor Santosh Gangwar expressed grief over the incident. In a post of X, he said, “I received the tragic news of the martyrdom of brave Jharkhand Jaguar jawan Sunil Dhan, who was injured in the IED blast during a search operation in Chaibasa. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and prayers for the speedy recovery of the other injured jawan.
Deputy Inspector General of Police Chothe confirmed that anti-Maoist operations in the region are ongoing and that several IEDs have already been defused during the course of the combing operations.
The area—part of Jharkhand’s Naxal-affected Saranda, Podahat, and Kolhan forest belts—has witnessed intensified operations in recent months, as both state and central agencies push to root out left-wing extremism. Since March 4, joint forces comprising Chaibasa Police, CoBRA battalions, Jharkhand Jaguar, and CRPF battalions have been engaged in a special coordinated offensive.
Security officials suspect that senior CPI (Maoist) leaders—including Misir Besra, Anmol, Mochu, Anal, Aseem Mandal, Ajay Mahato, Sagen Angaria, Ashwin, Pintu Lohra, Chandan Lodra, Amit Dansda alias Upton, Jaykant, and Rapa Munda—are active in the region and plotting disruptive operations.
Despite facing repeated attacks, security forces have reported multiple breakthroughs in recent months, including the destruction of several Maoist camps and the recovery of large caches of arms, ammunition, and explosives. However, Naxals continue to rely on IEDs to target personnel in these difficult terrains.