Maoists Sabotage Railway Tracks on Odisha-Jharkhand Border; Security Forces Launch Massive Search Ops

(OT Webdesk)In a major escalation during their annual ‘Shaheed Saptah’, suspected Maoists detonated landmines early Sunday morning, destroying railway tracks between Karampada (Jharkhand) and Renjeda (Odisha).

The blast occurred in the insurgency-hit Saranda forest region, halting train operations under the Bimalagarh section. Fortunately, no casualties were reported as no trains were passing at the time.

Security forces—including Odisha and Jharkhand Police, CRPF, and Jharkhand Jaguars—have launched intensive combing operations in the dense forest.

Bomb detection squads have been deployed to scan for additional explosives.

The attack follows a surge in Maoist propaganda, with posters and banners surfacing in Malkangiri, Rayagada, and neighbouring states.

Intelligence inputs also link the rebels to recent thefts of explosives from mining sites.

Authorities had placed border districts on high alert during the July 28–August 3 observance of ‘Shaheed Saptah’.

This railway sabotage is being seen as one of the most serious acts of aggression during the commemorative week.