The explosion also injured two other personnel: Inspector Kaushal Kumar Mishra and ASI Ramkrishna Gagrai. Both are currently undergoing treatment at Apollo Hospital in Rourkela. Reports indicate that their conditions are now stable and out of danger. ASI Ramkrishna Gagrai is notably the brother of Kharsawan MLA Dashrath Gagrai. CRPF officials have assured that the injured personnel are receiving the best possible medical care and vowed that Head Constable Lashkar’s sacrifice would not be in vain. Following the incident, security forces have intensified their search operations in the area, pursuing Maoist elements believed to be responsible.

The IED explosion took place around 4 PM on Friday as security forces were conducting a search operation in the Naxal-affected region. The blast occurred due to a pre-planted IED by Maoists. An exchange of fire was also reported in the vicinity after the explosion. This incident is part of a disturbing trend, as the Saranda region has witnessed an increase in IED blasts over the past few months. In August, two CRPF Cobra Battalion personnel were injured in a similar blast, and in March, a sub-inspector died from injuries sustained in an IED attack. In April, a Jharkhand Jaguar jawan was also martyred in an IED explosion.

Officials reported that the search operation commenced late Friday evening in the Dudu-Basantgarh area of Udhampur and the Seoj Dhar forest border of Doda’s Bhadrawah. The operation was a joint effort by the army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s Special Operations Group (SOG). During the search, terrorists fired, injuring a soldier, who later died in the hospital.

A significant figure in this history is Guru Tegh Bahadur, the ninth Sikh Guru. He opposed the anti-religious policies of the tyrannical Mughal emperor Aurangzeb to protect the Kashmiri Pandits’ pleas and uphold the faith. As a result, Guru Tegh Bahadur, along with his three companions Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Mati Das, Bhai Dayala, and hundreds of followers, were arrested and brought to Delhi. In Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s followers were martyred. Bhai Sati Das, Bhai Mati Das, and Bhai Dayala were cruelly killed, and finally, under Aurangzeb’s orders, Guru Tegh Bahadur’s head was severed from his body. The Gurudwaras Sheesh Ganj and Rakab Ganj in Chandni Chowk, Delhi, stand as memorials to this sacrifice.

To commemorate the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur, a journey began from Dhubri Sahib in Assam, and it will reach Raipur after passing through Saraypali and Basna. A grand welcome will be organized in Raipur near the Cheri Kheri Hotel Punjab Bistro. Grand welcome gates and two large stages are being constructed near Cheri Kheri. The main stage will host prominent figures including Chhattisgarh’s Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Assembly Speaker Dr. Raman Singh, members of the council of ministers, MLAs, the mayor, and other dignitaries. The second main stage will be for the key members of the Sikh community and the Gurudwara management committee.

The journey’s welcome will be led by the heads of all 18 Gurudwara committees in Raipur, who will escort it from near Saraypali. Grand preparations are underway for the arrival of the journey in the capital, Raipur. More than 20 LED screens are being installed to showcase the history of Guru Tegh Bahadur. Throughout the route, the melodious Gurbani Kirtan will be played through a sound system.

The journey will primarily take the form of a Nagar Kirtan, starting from VIP Chowk near the Ram Temple, where it will commence with Khalsa’s pride. The Shaheed Shatabdi Nagar Kirtan Yatra, which began from Dhubri Sahib in Assam, includes 20 vehicles, including two large trailer-like buses, and a contingent of 200 volunteers, Panj Pyare, and the holy Granth Sahib. One large trailer has been converted into a transparent glass bus, displaying historical weapons used during wars against the Mughals.

More than 30 stages are being set up in Raipur for the Nagar Kirtan Yatra, where flowers will be showered. Other communities, business organizations, and political organizations will also offer welcomes. The journey will pass through major routes in Raipur—Telibandha Marine Drive, Gurudwara Baba Budha Sahib, Shankar Nagar Chowk, Guru Tegh Bahadur Udyan, Ghadi Chowk, Shastri Chowk, Jai Stambh Chowk, Sharda Chowk, Phool Chowk, Azad Chowk, Aamapara Chowk, Rajkumar College, Anupam Garden, Science College, and University—before reaching Mahoba Bazar and Tatibandh Gurudwara. After an overnight stay, it will depart for Gondia (Maharashtra) on September 21 via the Durg-Dongargarh route.

Preparations for the journey’s commencement have been underway for a considerable time by the State Minority Commission and the prominent members of the Sikh community. Meetings have been held at the places where the journey will pass to finalize the arrangements. This information was provided through a joint press conference by Amarjeet Singh Chhabra, the President of the State Minority Commission, along with social worker Baldev Singh Bhatia, Jagjit Singh Khanuja, and GS Bhamra.

During the search operation, the Palamu police team reached the village of Kadel, where Commander Shashikant Ganjhu resides. He had come home to celebrate the Karma festival. The police surrounded his house, and an encounter ensued between the police and the Naxals. Three police personnel were shot in the encounter, of whom two were martyred. One injured जवान is receiving treatment at Mediniray Medical College and Hospital.

Since the start of ‘Operation Akhal’ in Kulgam, 11 security personnel have been injured. The operation is ongoing.

Chinar Corps of the Indian Army honored the sacrifice of the martyred soldiers on social media. They paid tribute to Lieutenant Colonel Pritpal Singh and Sepoy Harminder Singh for their supreme sacrifice. They wrote that their courage and dedication will always inspire. The Chinar Corps also confirmed that the operation is still underway.

‘Operation Akhal’ commenced on August 1st. Thus far, three terrorists have been neutralized in the encounter. Security forces initiated a cordon and search operation in a forest in Akhal, South Kashmir, following intelligence inputs about the presence of terrorists. After the initial exchange of fire on Friday, the operation was paused for the night. The cordon was strengthened, and additional forces were deployed. When the firing resumed the next day, two terrorists were killed. The identities and affiliations of the slain terrorists remain unknown.

Security forces have established a tight cordon around the area and continue to engage the terrorists, who are believed to be hiding in the dense forests. Senior police and military officials, including Jammu and Kashmir Police Chief Nalin Prabhat and Northern Commander Lieutenant General Pratik Sharma, are closely monitoring the operation around the clock.

Security forces are utilizing drones and helicopters to locate the terrorists in the forest. Para commandos are also assisting in neutralizing the hidden terrorists. The terrorists are believed to be positioned in the higher reaches of the hills, from where they are monitoring the movements of the security forces and frequently changing their positions, making it difficult for the forces to engage them.

The investigation team comprises six police officers, including SP, ASP, TI, and SI-level officers. This team will meticulously investigate every aspect related to the blast. DGP Arun Dev Gautam and SIA Director Ankit Garg have given special instructions to the team, directing them to identify and arrest the Naxals as soon as possible.

Sources indicate that the SIA team will depart for Sukma within the next two days and will visit the blast site to collect evidence.

The main objectives of this investigation are:

* Identification of the Naxal group responsible for the IED blast.
* Unraveling the network involved in their conspiracy.
* Arresting them and dismantling the entire module.

Meanwhile, the government has saluted the martyrdom of ASP Akash Rao, assuring that the perpetrators will not be spared.