IMPHAL, December 10: A team of 18 Sikh road opening party (ROP) detected and recovered a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) planted along the National Highway number 37 this early morning at Awang Khonou area under Patsoi Police Station.
According to a statement of the PRO IGAR (s), the bomb was destroyed at 9:15 am.
The statement said that, the IED bomb was found by a team of 18 Sikh Patsoi post of 9 Sector AR under the aegis of the IGAR (S) at around 6.50 am.
The team cordoned the suspected area and stopped traffic on the road, the statement said.
Explosive detector dog was brought in and the dog confirmed the presence of explosive, it said.
Then, the army bomb disposal team and Patsoi police team arrived at the location, it said.
The IED weighing around two and half Kilogram was found wrapped in a black plastic bag on the northern side of the National Highway 37 at Awang Khounou near Keithelmanbi under Pastoi, said police sources.
Police also speculated that it could have been planted as part of an attack on security forces.
Soon after the recovery of the bomb along the busy highway, police stopped vehicular movement. Normal traffic was allowed only afterwards.
Meanwhile, a Chinese made hand grenade was recovered from the residential compound of the Imphal Municipal Ward Number 8 Councillor Kangabam Tiken, 50 son of Biramangol of Kangabam Leikai under Imphal Police Station around 5.30 am today.
The bomb was safely picked up by a team of Imphal Police around 6 am.
According to the police, the bomb was found lying in the residential compound by family members.
The police have taken up a case regarding the incident.