2 days ago
Removing IEDs top priority of security forces in Saranda: IG
Ranchi: Improvised explosive devices (IED) have emerged as the biggest challenge to security forces involved in anti-Maoist operations in the forest areas of Saranda and other parts of West Singhbhum.
With the toll and injuries caused by IED blasts rising, police have launched special operations to detect and seize the devices.
Police said it seized 41 IEDs, 4,000kg explosives, 18,000 detonators, and 34 gelatine sticks from different parts of the district in the past three months in the special search operations.
Among the seized materials is 3,811kg explosives, which were a part of the 5,000kg looted from Odisha's Sundargarh on May 27.
IG (South Chhotanagpur) Manoj Kaushik said, "The recovery of IEDs has become the top priority of security forces in the district. The looted explosives in Sundargarh were prime materials which could have been converted into IEDs by merely inserting detonators. The existence of large cache of explosives with Maoists is a major threat to safety of police personnel."
"IEDs slowed down our operations in the past few months.
Civilians are also becoming targets," he said.
CRPF sub-inspector Sunil Kumar Mandal and assistant sub-inspector Satyawan Kumar Singh were martyred while six personnel were injured in IED blasts triggered by Maoists in Saranda this year.
Saranda forest and its adjoining areas remain the last Maoist bastion in the state. Key Maoist leaders, including politburo member Misir Besra and central committee member Anal are hiding in the area.
