IED unearthed in Chhattisgarh, major tragedy averted

A massive 60 kilogram IED was unearthed by ITBP troops in Rajnandgaon district of Chhattisgarh, averting a major tragedy.

The Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) troops deployed in Rajnandgaon for anti-Naxal operations found the IED, stealthily placed 3 feet beneath a 'puckka road' between Kohka and Manpur during their patrol yesterday, officials said.

The IED, packed in a metal encasing, was complete with a trigger mechanism to set it off as soon as a vehicle goes over it.

The Improvised Explosive Device (IED)  could have claimed the lives of numerous security forces personnel and civilians, they said.

The patrol squad delpoyed mine search detectors after one of the ITBP trropers felt that the colour of the black tarcoal on the road was suspiciously different and raised and alarm.

"A 60 kg IED, once detonated, would have brought huge loss of life. It can even destroy a mine protected vehicle.

"The security forces convoys are an obvious target," a senior security official said.

The IED has been handed over to local police, they said.