Bhubaneswar: Three jawans of Special Operation Group (SOG), an elite Commando unit of Odisha Police, were injured in an improvised explosive device (IED) blast at Batepanga forest on Boudh-Kandhamal border on Friday.
According to sources, the explosion took place when the security forces were combing the area following information about presence of Maoists in the forest. “The jawans have sustained minor injuries in the blast,” said Boudh SP Raj Prasad.
While two teams have been sent to rescue the injured jawans, combing operation has been intensified in the region, he added.
A similar incident was reported from Sirla jungle in Kandhamal districts on December 24, 2023, in which two SOG jawans sustained injuries while conducting a combing operation to flush out Maoists from their hideouts. One of the jawans suffered splinter injuries in one of his eyes and was admitted to AIIMS Bhubaneswar while the other received injuries in his hand.
