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Senior CRPF officer killed during lightning strike during anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand

According to a press release issued by Chaibasa Police, the incident occurred around 5:30 AM in the forested and hilly region near Baliba under Chotanagara Police Station, where it had been raining heavily

Officials announced that anti-Maoist operations in the region would be intensified (Representational image)

A senior officer of the Central Reserve Police Force was killed and three others wounded in a lightning strike during an anti-Naxal operation in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district Thursday morning.

According to a press release issued by Chaibasa Police, the incident occurred around 5:30 AM in the forested and hilly region near Baliba under Chotanagara Police Station, where it had been raining heavily. M. Probo Singh, Second-in-Command (2IC) of the CRPF 26 Battalion, had been part of a team that has been conducting anti-insurgency operation since March this year.

The operation, according to officials, is aimed at targeting top leaders of the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist), believed to be active in the Saranda and Kolhan areas.

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The wounded have been identified as Assistant Commandant Subir Kumar Mandal, Constable Suresh Bhagat, and Constable Chandlal Hansda. The three were evacuated to Ranchi, where they are currently undergoing treatment at SAIL Hospital in Kiriburu and Tata Main Hospital in Noamundi and are stated to be in stable condition.

Security forces from Chaibasa Police, CoBRA units (203 and 209 BN), Jharkhand Jaguar, and CRPF battalions 26, 60, 134, 174, 193, and 197 are jointly conducting the operation.

Shubham Tigga

Shubham Tigga hails from Chhattisgarh and studied journalism at the Asian College of Journalism. He previously reported in Chhattisgarh on Indigenous issues and is deeply interested in covering socio-political, human rights, and environmental issues in mainland and NE India. Presently based in Pune, he reports on civil aviation, other transport sectors, urban mobility, the gig economy, commercial matters, and workers' unions. You can reach out to him on LinkedIn ... Read More

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