IMPHAL, October 22: A Road Opening Party of the 20th Assam Rifles, Boungyang post recovered an Improvised Explosive Device at Thamnapokpi under Tengnoupal Police Station along the National Highway 2 (Imphal-Moreh) around 7:30am today.
Several AR convoys were supposed to pass the area, however following the recovery of the explosive, the convoys remained at the 26 AR Pallel post, informed reliable sources.
On the other hand, police sources have said that the bomb could have been planted to attack the passing security force convoys.
Vehicular movement along the highway which was stopped for few hours, resumed later after the bomb was safely defused at the spot around 1.30 pm by a team of bomb experts.
Assam Rifles personnel who are posted at the site told media persons that, the IED which could weight around 4kgs was found planted on the top of their Duty post located on the hill top above the Imphal Moreh Road at around 7.30 in the morning.
Meanwhile, a separate release of the PRO IGAR (s) has said that troops of 26 Sector Assam Rifles recovered an IED in a blue coloured tiffin box at 7am which was blasted at 1:45 pm.
It said the security was heightened due to movement of Deputy Chief Minister Gaikhangam from Imphal to Moreh and necessary security arrangement was made along the highway.
The area was cordoned and road cleared for movement of vehicles within two hours, it said and added that the tiffin box was confirmed to be carrying IED which was remotely controlled with explosive content of upto 2 kgs.