Fifth Elephant Killed by Naxal Blast in Jharkhand Saranda Forests
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Tragedy strikes again in Jharkhand’s Saranda forests as a wounded elephant from a Naxal IED explosion on May 4 has passed away, marking the fifth such death in the region. Forest department teams in West Singhbhum’s sensitive zone mounted a heroic 10-day vigil, treating the animal on-site amid Naxal threats.
The explosion at Kolbhonga in Koyna range pulverized the elephant’s front leg, confining it near Sasangda-Labraghada nullah. Despite veterinary oversight, medications, injections, and substantial vegetable feeds, recovery eluded the efforts. Relocation was impossible due to security risks in this IED-infested terrain.
Post-mortem will reveal more, but the pattern is clear: Naxal traps for forces are decimating wildlife. Historical cases include a 2024 cow elephant’s demise and Gadru’s in 2025, even with expert aid from Gujarat. Community fury boils over, urging stringent safeguards.
Residents lament, ‘Silent sufferers of human conflict, these elephants deserve better.’ The forest department faces mounting pressure to deploy advanced de-mining tech and enhance patrols, transforming Saranda from a battleground into a sanctuary once more.
