A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawan was killed in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast during an anti-Naxal operation conducted in the dense Saranda forest, which lies near the Odisha-Jharkhand border, officials confirmed on Saturday, June 14, 2025.

The martyred jawan has been identified as Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Satyawan Kumar Singh, who hailed from Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh. He was part of the 134th Battalion of the CRPF, which was engaged in a joint combing operation alongside personnel from the Odisha Police and Jharkhand Police.

The joint operation was launched in response to a Maoist raid that occurred on May 27, 2025, at a stone quarry in Sundergarh district of Odisha. During the raid, Maoist insurgents reportedly seized a significant quantity of explosives, prompting an extensive search to locate and recover the looted material.

While security forces were combing the Langalkata area of the forest, a hidden IED exploded, severely injuring ASI Singh. He was immediately airlifted to Rourkela for emergency medical treatment. However, despite best efforts, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.

The CRPF issued a solemn tribute on social media, stating:

“Brave Assistant Sub Inspector Satyawan Kumar Singh of 134 Battalion of SF #CRPF sacrificed his life in the line of duty in an IED blast on 14 June 2025 during the ongoing anti-maoist operation in Langalkata area of Rourkela (Odisha). CRPF salutes our brave warrior's indomitable courage, valour and devotion to the motherland. We always stand with the family of our brave man.”

This incident marks another grim reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by India’s security forces in counter-insurgency operations against Maoist groups, which continue to operate in remote forest belts across several Indian states, including Odisha, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and parts of Maharashtra and Telangana.

The Saranda forest, where the incident occurred, has long been known as a Maoist stronghold. Its dense canopy and difficult terrain make it a strategically significant region for insurgent activities and a challenging environment for counter-insurgency forces.

Over the years, numerous IED-related fatalities have occurred in this region. IEDs, being cheap and easy to deploy, have remained a preferred weapon of Maoist insurgents in ambush-style tactics aimed at delaying or injuring security patrols.

The 134th CRPF Battalion has been instrumental in several successful anti-Maoist operations across the eastern states. With this unfortunate martyrdom, the CRPF once again finds itself mourning the loss of one of its finest, even as operations against left-wing extremism (LWE) continue relentlessly.

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) is expected to release a formal statement acknowledging the bravery of ASI Singh. Condolences from senior officials in Odisha, Jharkhand, and the Union Government are also likely, given the seriousness of the incident and the continued sacrifice of paramilitary forces.

The Odisha and Jharkhand Police departments have ramped up surveillance and are likely to intensify search operations in Saranda in the coming days. The goal remains to neutralise remaining insurgents, recover looted materials, and prevent future IED attacks.

As India continues to battle Naxalite violence, the role of forces like the CRPF, often operating in hostile and inaccessible zones, becomes even more crucial. The death of ASI Satyawan Kumar Singh, while tragic, is a reminder of the price of internal security and the risks borne daily by the forces to keep citizens safe.

The nation salutes ASI Singh’s sacrifice and stands in solidarity with his grieving family.

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