Maoist Attacks Rock Odisha-Jharkhand Border: Explosions and Casualties Reported

Explosive Incidents on Railway Tracks

Bhubaneswar: On Sunday night, suspected Maoists executed two blasts using Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) on railway tracks situated along the Odisha-Jharkhand border, as reported by local police.

These explosions, which damaged the railway infrastructure, occurred at different sites close to the Jharkhand border.

This incident follows the tragic death of a railway worker due to an IED explosion on a nearby track in Sundergarh district.

The victim has been identified as 37-year-old Etawa Oram, while another worker, Budharam Munda, sustained injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Rourkela General Hospital.

Both individuals were present at the location for track maintenance duties.

The blasts were reported on the railway line connecting Karampada and Renjda within the Bimlagarh section.

Fortunately, passenger train services remained unaffected as the incidents occurred on a loop line, according to a spokesperson from South Eastern Railway.

The Maoist group had previously called for a week of remembrance for martyrs, termed 'Shahid Saptah', from July 28 to August 3.

In response to the incident, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh for the family of the deceased.

"We have escalated combing operations in the region. The Special Operations Group (SOG), District Voluntary Force (DVF), and bomb disposal units are actively involved in the search efforts," stated Sanjeev Panda, Additional Director General of Anti-Naxal Operations, who visited the blast site on Monday.