IED Explosion in Odisha's Sundargarh District Critically Injures CRPF Jawan

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion near a stone quarry in the Maoist-affected region of Odisha's Sundargarh district left a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan, Satyaban Singh, critically injured on Saturday. The incident occurred during an ongoing search operation near the Banko stone quarry in the Kuari hill area under K Balang police station limits. The IED, suspected to have been planted by Maoist rebels, detonated suddenly, injuring one jawan who was immediately evacuated to a nearby medical facility for treatment. The area has been under increased security scrutiny following a major incident nearly three weeks ago, when Maoist cadres looted approximately five tonnes of explosive materials from the Banko stone quarry.

Key Takeaways:

• An IED explosion near a stone quarry in Odisha's Sundargarh district critically injured a CRPF jawan, Satyaban Singh, during an ongoing search operation.
• The IED is suspected to have been planted by Maoist rebels, with security sources indicating that it might have been triggered using one of the stolen explosive devices or as part of a trap set by the ultras.
• Four tonnes of the looted explosives were recovered by security forces during the course of search operations in the region.
• Senior officials from Sundargarh police and CRPF have reached the site to assess the situation, with reinforcements deployed to cordon off the area and continue the search operation.
• Bomb disposal squads and sniffer dog teams have been mobilised to identify any additional explosive devices planted in the region.
• The incident highlights the persistent threat posed by Maoist groups in Odisha's tribal belts, particularly in mineral-rich districts like Sundargarh.

Statistics:

• One CRPF jawan, Satyaban Singh, was critically injured in the IED explosion.
• Approximately five tonnes of explosive materials were looted by Maoist cadres from the Banko stone quarry nearly three weeks ago.
• Four tonnes of the looted explosives were recovered by security forces during the course of search operations in the region.
• The search operation is ongoing, with senior officials, reinforcements, and bomb disposal squads deployed to the area.

Sources:

• Orissa TV