9-year-old girl killed in Maoist-planted IED blast along Odisha-Jharkhand border

A nine-year-old girl was killed in an IED explosion planted by Maoists inside Jharkhand’s Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district, close to the Odisha border. The minor was identified as a native of the nearby Digha village.

According to sources, the girl died on the spot while collecting leaves in the forest on Wednesday morning.

Reports added that the child had gone with a local woman to collect forest produce. According to police sources, the IED, suspected to have been planted earlier by Maoist cadres to target security patrols, went off when the girl unknowingly stepped on it.

The powerful blast instantly claimed her life, leaving the accompanying woman severely shaken but unhurt. Following reports of the explosion, personnel from the Jharkhand Police and a bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot, recovered the body, and initiated search operations in the surrounding area.

Preliminary investigations suggest the explosive device was part of an older trap set up during recent Maoist movements through the forest corridor. The exact location of the detonation has been cordoned off as forensic teams examine residue and triggering mechanisms.

Intensified Combing Operations Launched

Soon after the incident, security forces intensified combing operations across the Saranda forest to trace the Maoist group responsible for planting the explosive, informed sources.

Officials said special units of the CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar have been deployed to neutralise possible hidden explosives and flush out any remaining insurgent presence. Villagers in the area have been cautioned against venturing deep into forest zones until further clearance from authorities.

ALSO READ: CRPF camp inaugurated, National flag hoisted at Maoist-hit Langalkata in Sundargarh

Decline In Maoist Strength Amid Recent Surrenders

The incident comes amid signs of a weakening Maoist network in the eastern region. Just a day earlier, two senior Maoist leaders, Bandi Prakash and P. Prasada Rao, surrendered before the Telangana Police in Hyderabad.

The surrender marked a significant blow to the insurgent movement’s organisational structure along the Odisha–Telangana border.