4 jawans injured in Maoists’ IED blast in Jharkhand hills during combing operation
The jawans stepped on pressure bombs planted by Maoists in Bhura Pahad (hills) where they were conducting combing up operation on Monday evening.
Four jawans of Jharkhand’s elite combat force were injured when they stepped on pressure bombs planted by Maoists in Bhura Pahad (hills) during combing operation on Monday evening.
The Jhakhand Jaguar jawans, Manoj Kumar Paswan (28), Satish Kumar (27), Yogesh Rana (28) and Sushil Chhetry (44) were airlifted and treated in Medica Hospital in Ranchi.
Hospital sources said the injured jawans were out of danger and convalescing.
The incident comes close on the heels of an ambush by 300-400 Maoists in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district where 25 CRPF jawans were killed.
Bhura Pahad is a range of hills spread over more than a hundred square kilometres across Latehar, Palamu and Garhwa districts and extends to Chhattisgarh.
On the directive of the ministry of home affairs, forces are conducting an “Operation Clean Sweep” in the hills for the last one week, hunting for top Maoist leaders who are apparently holed up in the hills.
The cliffs, valleys and mountainous rivulets provide a safe hiding space for Maoists. Jharkhand’s top Maoist leader, Arvindji is learnt to be hiding in these hills along with his 70-80 armed cadre.
Intelligence sources have provided “accurate information” to the forces about the location and movement of the red rebels. But since the entire forested area is mined with improvised explosive devices, forces are taking extra precaution in advancing towards the rebels hideouts.
Despite high level of alertness, the four jawans fell prey to the designs of the Maoists and got injured.