IED event in Jharkhand, Marangponga area of Saranda Forest, West Singhbhum District area, India on Sun 1st March 2026

Assistant Commandant Ajay Mallick, Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and one jawan was injured in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast during a search operation being conducted against the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in the Marangponga area of Saranda Forest in West Singhbhum District of Jharkhand on March 1, reports The New Indian Express. “One Assistant Commandant of CoBRA got injured in an IED blast. The injured officer was evacuated to a safer location. After providing first aid, he was airlifted to Ranchi for better treatment,” said Chaibasa Superintendent of Police (SP) Amit Renu, adding "CoBRA jawan who received bullet injuries is being airlifted to Ranchi." According to an estimate, around 60-65 Maoists are supposed to be hiding in the Saranda Forest areas, where they have planted thousands of IEDs, which have become a challenge for the Security Forces.