An innocent villager was critically injured on Saturday after stepping on an IED allegedly planted by Naxalites in the Saranda forest area of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district. The incident occurred around 11 am in Baliba village, under Chotanagara Police Station limits.

According to Superintendent of Police Rakesh Ranjan, the IED was intended to target patrolling security personnel. However, it was accidentally triggered by Sahu Barjo, a local resident who had entered the forest to collect firewood.

The explosion left Barjo severely wounded. Security forces arrived at the scene and transported him to Manoharpur government hospital.

He was later referred to a higher facility for specialised treatment. Notably, the injured man remained without medical attention for nearly nine hours, reaching the hospital only around 8 pm.

Locals expressed outrage over the delay, alleging that a quicker response would have been ensured if the victim had been a security personnel.

This incident highlights the persistent threat posed by IEDs in Naxal-affected regions, where civilians continue to suffer the fallout of ongoing conflict.

With inputs from Jay Kumar Tanti