Sundargarh: Security personnel in the wee hours of Saturday recovered a 15-kg landmine during a combing operation in Langalakanta forest under K Balang police limits in Sundargarh district. It was subsequently defused.
“A major tragedy was averted. Otherwise the blast would have claimed many lives,” the security personnel said.
According to sources, CRPF jawans were conducting combing operation in Langalakanta forest when they detected the landmine. They reported the matter to the bomb disposal squad which safely defused it.
As Maoists are observing ‘martyrs’ week’ in the area, combing operation has been launched by the security forces in Langalakanta.
Police suspect that the landmine might have been planted to inflict casualties on the security forces. Search operations have been intensified in the area.
The recovery of landmine is said to be a major success for security forces as the rebels are trying to strengthen their base in several areas bordering Jharkhand in Odisha.
A landmine was found on a roadside at Chatikana in Rayagada district Thursday evening. Locals spotted it and informed the police. CRPF personnel, a forensic team and sniffer dogs reached the spot and defused the landmine. It is suspected that Maoists might have planted the powerful landmine, targeting security personnel engaged in anti-insurgency exercises in the area.
PNN