A high-stakes anti-Naxal mission in Jharkhand turned perilous when an IED blast left 209 Cobra Battalion’s Assistant Commandant Ajay Malik fighting for life in West Singhbhum’s Saranda forests. The explosive trap, set by Maoists, sparked an intense showdown that has local residents on edge.
Security teams ventured into the thick foliage early Sunday on tips of Naxal activity. The pressure-triggered device erupted without warning, hurling shrapnel and injuring the officer seriously. Medevac chopper rushed him to Ranchi, where doctors battle to save him.
Naxals followed up with heavy firing, met by determined retaliation from the forces, who encircled the zone. The prolonged battle’s sounds terrified villagers, prompting a swift dispatch of backup units for thorough sweeps.
Police chief Amit Renu updated that operations continue unabated, eyes fixed on the unfolding drama. Whispers from the field point to Naxal losses, pending verification. This comes hours after appeals for voluntary surrender in nearby Manoharpur.
Saranda is locked down under heightened vigilance, with aggressive probes to eradicate the red menace. Such episodes expose the gritty reality of counter-insurgency in Jharkhand, fueling resolve to end Naxal dominance once and for all.