CRPF Jawan Martyred in IED Blast During Anti-Naxal Operation on Odisha-Jharkhand Border

 June 15, 2025 – A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was martyred on Saturday during an anti-Naxal operation in the dense Saranda forest region, along the sensitive Odisha-Jharkhand border. The incident, caused by an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast, underscores the persistent threat posed by Left Wing Extremism (LWE) in the region despite intensified efforts by security forces.

The deceased jawan has been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Satyaban Kumar Singh, 34, of the CRPF's 134th Battalion. ASI Singh, who hailed from Kushinagar district in Uttar Pradesh, sustained critical injuries to his left leg when the pressure-triggered IED, planted by Naxalites, detonated around 6 AM near K Balang village in Odisha's Sundargarh district.

According to officials, ASI Singh was part of a joint combing operation being conducted by the CRPF, Odisha Police's Special Operations Group (SOG), and Jharkhand Police. The objective of the operation was to track and dismantle Naxal hideouts and disrupt their logistics and movement in the forested and hilly terrains. The team was specifically searching for explosives that Naxalites had reportedly looted from a stone quarry in Sundargarh on May 27. While a significant portion of the stolen explosives has been recovered, the search for the remaining gelatin packets continues.

Following the blast, ASI Singh was swiftly evacuated by his fellow personnel to a hospital in Rourkela, where he tragically succumbed to his injuries.

Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi expressed his deep sorrow and condoled the death of the CRPF official. In a statement on X, he said, "Deeply saddened to know about the sacrifice of ASI Satyban Singh of CRPF in an IED blast during a combing operation at Odisha-Jharkhand border. He has set the highest standard of service and courage by sacrificing his life for the security of the country. I pray for the eternal peace of the martyred jawan and express my condolences to the bereaved family."

The Saranda forest, sprawling across the Odisha-Jharkhand border, has historically been a stronghold and strategic corridor for Naxalites. While security operations have significantly curtailed Naxal presence in many areas over recent years, pockets like Saranda continue to witness sporadic violence and pose significant operational challenges due to their dense cover and rugged terrain.

This incident comes at a time when the Union Ministry of Home Affairs has intensified its fight against Naxalism, with enhanced counter-insurgency operations targeting cadres of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and other Maoist insurgent groups in the "Red Corridor." Security forces have been focusing on dismantling logistical support networks, intercepting movement routes, and targeting hideouts.

Authorities have confirmed that combing operations will continue in the affected area over the next several days. Additional reinforcements have been deployed, and the use of drone surveillance, mine-protected vehicles, and sniffer dogs has been intensified to detect further explosive devices and track down the perpetrators responsible for this cowardly attack.