Jamshedpur/ Ranchi: Two CRPF personnel were injured during an operation against Maoists in the Saranda forest of West Singhbhum district on Sunday.West Singhbhum superintendent of police (SP) Amit Renu said a CoBRA officer was injured in an IED blast in the morning, while a CRPF jawan received a bullet injury later. Both the injured personnel were airlifted to Ranchi and admitted to a private hospital.“Details pertaining to the identity of the injured personnel and information about the operation site will be shared after the operation ends,” the SP said.The injured personnel were later airlifted to New Delhi from Ranchi. Both are in a stable condition, Jharkhand police spokesperson Michael Raj said.Sources said security forces were on a combing operation after receiving intelligence about the movement of Maoists in the area. 209 CoBRA battalion’s assistant commandant Ajay Mallick sustained a serious injury to his left leg when the IED, which was allegedly planted by Maoists to target security forces, exploded.The injured officer was shifted to the camp, and the combing operation resumed. Shots were then fired at the security forces from inside the forest, in which a CRPF jawan was injured.Raj said, “Anti-Maoist operations are underway in Saranda.”On Jan 22, forces killed 15 ultras, including top Maoist leader Patiram Majhi alias Anal da.Meanwhile, villagers Salai Cheruwa and Jai Singh Cheruwa were killed when they stepped on an IED under Jeraikela police station limits on February 10. The residents of Tirilposhi village had gone to the forest to collect firewood. On Feb 21, CoBRA personnel Raut Dinesh and Balwindra Singh were injured in an IED explosion near Chadridera under Chhotanagara police station limits. In 2025, four CRPF personnel were killed and 12 injured in IED blasts.
