Chaibasa, July 3: A Jharkhand Jaguar jawan was injured in a Maoist-triggered IED blast in the dense Saranda forest region under Chotanagara Police Station limits, near Babudara jungle.

The injured jawan, identified as Manoj Damai, has been reportedly airlifted to Ranchi for treatment.

According to reports, the incident occurred during an anti-Naxal operation.

Due to the absence of a CRPF helicopter in the vicinity, the injured jawan was airlifted to Ranchi using the personal chopper of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, underscoring the urgency and gravity of the situation.

This blast comes just a day after security forces reportedly seized over 18,000 detonators from the same forest zone, indicating heightened militant activity and the presence of hidden explosive caches.

Security forces have intensified combing operations in Saranda, which spans the Odisha-Jharkhand border and remains a hotbed of Maoist insurgency despite years of counter-insurgency efforts.

The area has witnessed multiple IED incidents in recent months, targeting both civilians and paramilitary personnel.

Authorities have launched a full-scale investigation, and additional reinforcements have been deployed to secure the region and prevent further attacks. The injured commando is currently undergoing treatment at a specialized facility in Ranchi.

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