Security forces recover IED from forest in West Singhbhum

• Police and paramilitary forces recovered an IED from the Naxals- dominated Kolhan forest
• This is a jolt to one of the top Naxal leaders, Misir Besra
• The IED was planted near Meralgeda village in the dense Kolhan forest under the Goelkera thana area

Police and paramilitary forces recovered an IED from the Naxal-dominated Kolhan forest, targeting one of the top Naxal leaders, Misir Besra, who is hiding in the vast forest cover. Aiming to cause damage to paramilitary forces, an IED was planted near Meralgeda village in the dense Kolhan forest under Goelkera thana area.

A CRPF bomb disposal squad destroyed the explosive device soon after it was discovered by paramilitary forces encroaching on the forest cover, spread over an area of about 650 sq km. The detection of the IED is the first sign of success for paramilitary forces that have penetrated the jungle periphery, which is riddled with rebel-planted IEDs.

As many as 15 jawans have already sustained injuries, some of them seriously, in IED blasts since the police and paramilitary forces launched an operation to flush out Naxals from Kolhan and adjoining Porahat forest divisions. West Singhbhum Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Shekhar said that the counter-insurgency operation is in full swing and the Naxals hiding in the dense forest will be eliminated soon.

“We were able to detect the IED from Kolhan forest by following the SOP. More such explosive devices will be found soon,” said Shekhar Sources revealed that the Naxals, who have made Kolhan and Porahat forest divisions a safe heaven, will now face trouble as paramilitary forces have also blocked food supply pipelines in a concerted effort.