A heart-wrenching incident has taken place in the Tilaposi forest of Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district, where a 10-year-old tribal girl tragically lost her life. The girl, identified as Siria Herenz, was collecting Sial leaves when she accidentally stepped on an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) that was allegedly planted by Maoists. The explosion occurred on Tuesday morning, resulting in her immediate death.
According to Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO) Jaydeep Lakra, the IED was likely intended for security forces. He expressed sorrow over the unfortunate event, highlighting that the innocent girl had no way of knowing the danger beneath her feet.
In response to the tragedy, authorities have stated that they will be requesting compensation from the state government for the victim’s family, in accordance with provisions for those affected by Maoist violence. Jeraikela Police Station Officer-in-Charge Amit Kumar confirmed the details, noting that the girl’s legs were severely damaged in the blast. Her body was recovered and sent for post-mortem examination before being handed over to her grieving family.