Powerful IEDs seized in Chhattisgarh

A major tragedy was averted when security forces recovered five powerful IEDs planted by Naxals, in Chhattisgarh's Kondagaon district, police said Saturday.

The IEDs, weighing 10 kg each and packed in cookers, were unearthed from a dirt track near a well between Uparchandeli and Khalichandeli villages, located around 250 km away from here, under the Keshkal police station, when a joint team of security forces was carrying out a de-mining operation on Friday to detect explosives planted by ultras, a senior police official told PTI.

Acting on specific inputs, the operation was carried out by the District Reserve Guard (DRG), Special Task Force (STF), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and local police, he said.

The Improvised Explosive Devices were planted near the well to target security personnel when they look for water resources during patrolling in forests, the official said, adding that the explosives were later destroyed by a bomb disposal squad.