RANCHI: Twenty-six security personnel were injured in an IED blast triggered by Maoists in Seraikela district of Jharkhand on Tuesday.
The injured personnel were immediately airlifted and admitted to Medica Hospital in Ranchi.
ADG (Operations) and Jharkhand Police spokesperson ML Meena said that a joint team of 209 CoBRA Battalion of CRPF and Jharkhand Jaguar were out on regular operation when the blast took place.
“Twenty-six 26 jawans of CRPF and Jharkhand Police were injured when IEDs were triggered in series when the security forces were out on operation in the area,” said Meena.
Keeping all aspects into consideration, operations are being continued in the region to trace the Maoists, he added.
Meena said four of the jawans have been seriously injured, while nine have received splinter injuries. Those who were seriously have been identified as Vikram Singh, Dulal Das, Satish Kumar and Kuljeet Singh.
Sources said that clearing of anti-personnel mines installed by the Maoists ahead of Lok Sabha elections is being done in the region for the last three days.
The team of security forces was ambushed on Tuesday, were also were on the same operation, they said.
According to officials, the improvised explosive device (IED) is suspected to have been buried under the dirt track.