Explosive loot: CRPF Jawan dies in IED blast during anti-Maoist ops in Odisha’s Sundargarh

An Improvised Explosive Device (IED) explosion near a stone quarry in the Maoist-affected region of Sundargarh district left a Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan 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 injured jawan, Satyaban Singh, was immediately rescued and shifted to hospital. However, he succumbed to the injuries.

According to security sources, the blast took place when CRPF personnel were combing the area as part of an intensive anti-Maoist operation. 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. His condition is reported to be stable.

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. Since then, security forces have launched multiple search operations to trace the stolen materials and secure the region.

During the course of these operations, around four tonnes of the looted explosives were recovered by the forces. The IED blast occurred while the remaining explosives were being tracked through continued combing efforts. Sources indicate that the explosion might have been triggered using one of the stolen explosive devices or was part of a trap set by the ultras to disrupt the search operations.

Senior officials from Sundargarh police and CRPF have reached the site to assess the situation. Reinforcements have also been 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.

Security has been heightened in nearby villages and surrounding forested terrain, with authorities urging locals to remain alert and report any suspicious activity.

The incident once again underscores the persistent threat posed by Maoist groups in Odisha’s tribal belts, particularly in mineral-rich districts like Sundargarh. 

While significant recovery of explosives has been made, the presence of more hidden devices and the possibility of further ambushes continue to pose a serious challenge to the security apparatus.