New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Tuesday observed a solemn tribute to nine valiant troopers from its 137 and 152 Battalions who made the supreme sacrifice while courageously countering a Maoist ambush in the dense Saranda forest of West Singhbhum district, Jharkhand, on April 7, 2004.
The Director General of the CRPF, along with personnel across the force, paid heartfelt homage to the fallen jawans, reaffirming the organisation’s unwavering commitment to combating Left-Wing Extremism and ensuring that the martyrs’ sacrifice continues to inspire future generations. In an official statement, the CRPF saluted the “bravehearts” and pledged that their valour would never be forgotten nor their sacrifice allowed to go in vain.
The incident occurred during a joint operation launched by troops of the 137 and 152 Battalions in the Saranda forest region near Gua police station in West Singhbhum. The area, part of the mineral-rich Saranda forests long considered a Maoist stronghold, witnessed a sudden and fierce ambush by heavily armed cadres of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). The CRPF personnel, while conducting area domination and search operations, responded with exemplary courage and professionalism despite being caught in hostile terrain.
The nine troopers who laid down their lives in the line of duty exemplified the highest traditions of the country’s largest central armed police force. Their sacrifice occurred at a time when the Maoist insurgency in Jharkhand and neighbouring states posed a significant internal security challenge, with the Red Corridor extending across several mineral-rich and forested districts.
Twenty-two years later, the CRPF’s tribute underscores the enduring resolve of India’s paramilitary forces in the protracted battle against Left-Wing Extremism. Over the past two decades, sustained counter-insurgency operations, improved intelligence coordination, and developmental initiatives in affected areas have significantly weakened the Maoist apparatus. Incidents of large-scale violence have declined markedly, though challenges persist in pockets of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and Odisha.
The CRPF, which has borne the brunt of anti-Naxal operations alongside state police forces and other central agencies, continues to deploy specialised units such as the Commando Battalion for Resolute Action (CoBRA) in these theatres. The force has lost hundreds of personnel in the line of duty since the early 2000s, making such memorial observances an important part of its institutional memory and morale-building efforts.
Today’s solemn remembrance also serves as a reminder of the human cost of internal security operations and the quiet professionalism of the men and women in uniform who operate in some of India’s most challenging terrains. As the country advances towards its goal of a Naxal-free India, the legacy of these nine martyrs from the 137 and 152 Battalions remains a beacon of courage and selfless service.
The CRPF has consistently honoured its fallen personnel through annual tributes, welfare measures for next of kin, and by incorporating their stories into training modules to inspire new recruits. The force operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs and plays a pivotal role in both internal security and disaster response across the nation.
As India continues to strengthen its multi-pronged strategy combining security measures with development and governance reforms in Left-Wing Extremism-affected districts, the memory of those who paid the ultimate price in 2004 reinforces the national commitment to peace and stability in the region.
contact: drrajeshjauhri@gmail.com
Dr Rajesh Jauhri is a Journalist with an experience of over 25 years in Indian and foreign media, a Social Scientist, an Ac-complished Author, a Political & Strategic Analyst, a Marksman (Rifle & Pistol), an Orator, a Thinker and an Educationist. He holds a Ph.D. degree on “Impact of colonial heritage on Indian police”. He runs an NGO dedicated to the social and eco-nomic uplift of tribal communities in MP and two decades back, he established a school in a village of Indore district, providing education and moral values to children belonging to underprivileged and minority families. Has received multiple awards in various fields.
