Ranchi (Jharkhand): An IED blast in the Lohardaga district of Jharkhand on Tuesday, which caused the death of a security personnel from the Small Action Team, proves that the biggest threat faced by the security forces engaged in anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand, are landmines.
Ever since Jharkhand became a separate state, several security personnel here have lost their lives to these destructive weapons. The Naxals have planted landmines on the roads which connect the Naxal-affected areas in Jharkhand. Every forest near the area is rigged with landmines and other bombs.
In a conversation with ETV Bharat, Jharkhand Police IG (Operations), Saket Singh said that the Naxals have planted bombs across the areas of Chaibasa, Lohardaga, Saraikela-Kharsava, Palamu, Gadva and other Naxal-affected regions.
These roads usually prove to be fatal to those who ever stumble upon them. Every road, whether it be the forested areas or the pucca roads, is unsafe for the forces.
According to Saket Singh, any careless step taken can result in the loss of life. The intensity of these landmines is such that they can rip apart a bullet proof vehicle and anti-landmine vehicle into pieces. The security forces are well aware of its dangers and the security forces often run operations to defuse these landmines.
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Danger at every step
According to data received from the Jharkhand Police, in the year 2018, the police had recovered 463 landmines from the Naxalite-affected areas. Likewise in the year 2019, 278 landmines were discovered and 276 in 2020. This year most of the landmines have been found in Chaibasa.
Naxals using small landmines to target forces
Naxal organisations usually planted landmines in the middle of the road. These landmines were so dangerous and powerful that even anti-landmine vehicles stood no chance against them. In order to thwart the plan, the security personnel started going to the inaccessible areas on foot during anti-Naxal operations. To counter this move, the Naxals came up with new landmines which weigh 5 to 10 kilograms. These pressure bombs are now posing a threat to the jawans on foot.
Read: 2 CRPF jawans injured in gun-battle with Maoists in Jharkhand
How do the Naxals install these landmines?
Experts say that most of the landmines used against the police are planted by the largest Naxal organisation of Jharkhand - CPI(Maoist). In their area of influence, they plant landmines under the pucca roads by threatening the contractors who are responsible for the construction of the roads. The cadre of CPI(Maoist) includes many such experts who specialise in making bombs. There is no one to check the Naxalites from planting landmines in the jungles and the trails, but they often use new available mechanisms to implant bombs beneath the pucca roads.
Police on alert
Right at the beginning of 2021, the Naxals challenged the police by carrying out incidents of arson. In the month of February, the Naxals carried out more than half a dozen violent incidents trying to reiterate the fact that they have not been weakened. Hence, to counter their move it is pertinent that the police rolls out a new plan so that they may curtail the menace of Naxals in the region.
Read: Jharkhand: NIA unearths high-grade explosives CPI (Maoist) planned to use against security forces
