Ranchi: A CRPF jawan, engaged in anti-Maoist operations in the Saranda forests of the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand died after being bitten by a venomous snake.
The incident highlights how security forces face challenges in their efforts to eliminate Left Wing Extremism from the country. Officials said that this is the second death of a jawan from snakebite in Saranda.
Jawans of the 209 CoBRA Battalion were carrying out a search operation in the forests of Chhota Nagara in Saranda when the incident occurred.
Sandeep Kumar, a resident of Deoria in Uttar Pradesh was bitten by a snake. He was immediately evacuated from the forest and taken to a hospital in Kolebira, where he died during treatment.
The body is being taken by road to Ranchi, where tributes will be paid before it is sent to his hometown in UP.
The news was confirmed by Chaibasa SP Amit Renu who said that he came to know of the incident around 9 am on Wednesday.
“After the incident, the jawan was evacuated from the jungles and admitted to a hospital, but unfortunately his life could not be saved,” he said, adding how several incidents of snakebites have been reported by security forces operating against the Maoists in Saranda.
In fact, snakes, scorpions, mosquitoes and even lightning are greater threats than the Maoists, who can be seen and fired upon. Several jawans have fallen severely ill and some even died due to malaria while operating in Saranda.
Lightning strikes have also resulted in deaths and scorpion bites are common.
Officials said that Kumar had participated in several anti-Maoist operations during his tenure with the 209 CoBRA Battalion.