Second Commandant of CRPF's 26th battalion loses life due to lightning

ANI May 16, 2025 312 views

A CRPF commandant lost his life after being struck by lightning during anti-Naxal operations in Jharkhand. Meanwhile, the force mourned the death of K9 Rolo, a Belgian Shepherd killed by bee stings in Operation Black Forest. The 21-day joint operation neutralized 31 Naxals with bounties totaling Rs 1.72 crore. Security forces continue their push to eliminate Naxalism by 2026.

"K9 Rolo suffered around 200 bee stings, making it unconscious before succumbing on the way to treatment." – CRPF
Singhbhum, May 16: Second Commandant of CRPF's 26th Battalion M Probo Singh lost his life while three others were injured after lightning struck the jawans involved in anti-Naxal operations under Chotanagra Police Station area of the West Singhbhum district of Jharkhand, as per officials.

Key Points

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CRPF Commandant M Probo Singh killed in lightning strike

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3 jawans injured in West Singhbhum anti-Naxal ops

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K9 Rolo dies after bee attack in Operation Black Forest

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31 Naxals neutralized in 21-day joint operation

Among the three injured jawans, one is an assistant commandant of the CRPF identified as Subir Kumar Mandal, while two others include Suresh Bhagat and Chandlal Hansda, are jawans of the Chaibasa Police.

Meanwhile, the CRPF conducted the last rites of a two-year-old Belgian Shepherd named Rolo, part of the force's elite canine squad who lost her life after she was attacked by a swarm of bees during a major anti-Naxal operation in the Karreguttalu hills on the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

She was declared dead on 27 April 2025, with the cause of death being anaphylactic shock following 200 bee stings.

K9 Rolo, born on 05/04/2023, was trained in infantry patrolling, explosive detection and assault at DBTS in batch sl. No. 80, subsequent to which it was deployed for Anti-Naxal duties in 228 Bn, CRPF in the month of April 2024.

During the special operation at KGH, while K9 along with other troops were carrying out an intensive search operation, a sudden attack by a huge swarm of honey bees led them in surprise. Handlers of K9 Rolo covered it with a polythene sheet to avoid being bitten by the bees but it went in vain as the huge swarm of bees slipped inside the cover and bit K9 Rolo who then, due to intense pain and irritation, got berserk and got out of the cover making him vulnerable to more bites, said the CRPF.

Resultantly, K9 Rolo suffered around 200 bee stings, which made it unconscious. An immediate medical evacuation was performed. Emergency treatment was given by the handlers. However, K9 Rolo succumbed to the pain and suffering while on the way and was declared brought dead by the veterinarian, said the CRPF.

To achieve the goal of eliminating Naxalism by March 26, 2026, the security forces have been conducting the biggest ever operation, 'Operation Black Forest' to break the backbone Naxals near Karreguttalu Hill (KGH) at the Chhattisgarh-Telangana border.

The 21-day long operation carried out by the joint forces of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and state police between April 21 to May 11 neutralised 31 Naxals carrying a bounty of Rs 1.72 crore.

Reader Comments

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Rajesh K.
Heartbreaking news. These brave CRPF personnel risk their lives daily in tough terrains. The loss of Commandant Probo Singh is tragic, and the injured jawans are in our prayers. 🙏 Also, salute to K9 Rolo who served the nation till her last breath. Our forces deserve better protective gear against such unpredictable dangers.
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Priya M.
Operation Black Forest seems to be making progress, but at what cost? 31 Naxals neutralized is good, but we lost a dedicated officer and a trained canine. The government must invest more in advanced weather prediction systems for our forces in jungle areas. Lightning strikes are preventable with proper tech!
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Amit S.
The story of K9 Rolo brought tears to my eyes. These dogs are unsung heroes of our security forces. We should have a memorial for service animals like other countries do. Jai Hind to all our bravehearts fighting Naxalism in such difficult conditions.
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Sunita R.
While we appreciate CRPF's efforts, why aren't we hearing more about welfare measures for families of martyrs? One news article and we move on. These heroes deserve lifelong support - education for children, proper pensions, and healthcare. The nation must do more than just pay tribute on social media.
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Vikram J.
The terrain in West Singhbhum is extremely challenging. I've been there for work - dense forests, unpredictable weather. Our forces operate there with such courage. The Rs 1.72 crore bounty shows how dangerous these Naxals were. Hope Operation Black Forest achieves its 2026 target.
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Neha P.
So many sacrifices...human and animal alike. 😔 When will this Naxal menace end? We need development in these areas - schools, hospitals, jobs. Only then will youth stop joining these groups. Military action alone won't solve this decades-old problem.

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Tags:
CRPF Anti-Naxal operations Operation Black Forest K9 Rolo Jharkhand Chhattisgarh-Telangana border