3 Jawans injured in IED blast during combing operation in Odisha’s Boudh

Three jawans sustained injuries in the IED blast at Batepanga forest on Boudh-Kandhamal border on Friday. The explosion occurred when a team of jawans were conducting a combing operation. Initial reports said that the jawans were carrying out a search operation after getting information regarding the movement of Maoists in the area.

Boudh SP, Raj Prasad said, “A combing operation was being conducted and the jawans got injured in IED blast. The operation was on Boudh-Kandhamal border area. The jawans have sustained minor injuries in the blast.”

Recently, former Odisha DGP Sunil Bansal had reviewed the anti-naxal operations in Boudh and said that the Maoist presence has been reduced in the district. However, it seems that the rebels are still active in the region. CRPF and district police had also busted Maoist camp and dump in the state recently.

In December 2023, an exchange of fire between Maoists and the security forces was reported during a combing operation at Nalikumbha forest under Manmunda police limits in Boudh district.

On December 24 last year, two jawans of the Special Operations Group (SOG) had sustained critical injuries after an improvised explosive device (IED), suspected to be planted by Maoists, exploded in Kandhamal district.