One cop of the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (COBRA) was killed today in Jharkhand’s Sarjamburu and Hakatumba village under Tonto block in West Singhbhum district in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) blast. 

Reports say more cops were injured who were airlifted and brought to Medica Hospital in Ranchi for treatment. 

The Maoists had placed IEDs inside the forest so that security forces can not enter their areas of operation. Today when security forces were involved in anti Maoist operation, the blast took place resulting in the casualty. 

Although the IED was planted beneath a blacktop road, the explosion was so intense that the vehicle and the jawans were blown up, their body parts strewn across about 100 metres. 

The recovered wire from the spot indicates that at least three detonators were used to trigger and boost the blast. 

 While the Maoists are not opposed to such attacks during any period, they intensify their offensive activities during the Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign, which lasts from January-March to May-June - September - October each year. 

During this period, they make large formations (by merging different formations of an area) to attack security forces and the development infrastructure.