KANKER: A major tragedy was averted on Thursday after recovered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) – suspected to have been planted by Maoists – in Kanker district of Chhattisgarh, police said. The bomb was immediately neutralized by Bomb Disposal Squad.

As per information from the officials, the IED packed in an iron pipe weighing 10kgs was recovered near Tekapar village under Koyalibeda police station limits when a team of District Reserve Guard (DRG) was out on a search operation.

“While cordoning off a forested hill, the patrolling team detected the bomb hidden under bushes along a dirt track to target security forces,” said Amarnath Sidar, Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) Antagarh.