Bhawanipatna: A possible disaster was averted as security forcces acted swiftly and defused an improvised explosive device (IED) planted by Maoists in Odisha’s Kalahandi district on Monday.
The explosive device, allegedly planted by the naxals near a roadside tree beside the state highway around five km from the district headquarters town Bhawanipatna, was spotted by locals this morning.
Sources said the villagers informed the police after noticing the suspicious looking device. A team of police personnel along with the bomb disposal squad rushed to the site and successfully defused the explosive devise, averting a possible mishap.
An empty wine bottle and a Maoist poster were also found under the tree where the IED was found. A roadside tree was felled in a bid to block the highway.
The successful deactivation of the IED in Kalahandi comes a day after a similar device planted by Maoists was defused by Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Malkangiri.
It may be noted here that the banned CPI (Maoist) is observing a bandh in seven districts of Odisha on Monday in support of their 12-point charter of demands.
The bandh call was given in the Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayararh, Boudh, Rayagada, Gajapati, and Ganjam districts of Odisha.
The ultras felled trees to block roads in different places and put up posters in support of their demands. They also urged people to support the bandh.
