Security forces in Nagaland avert bomb blast

A bomb blast was averted in Nagaland's Mon district by security forces on Thursday when they recovered an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) on the road, an official said.

The IED was planted by rebels of the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland on the road between Aboi and Mon in Mon district, the official said.

"The bomb was discovered in the early hours of Thursday morning by foot patrol soldiers, who was on routine duty in the area. The bomb squad later defused the IED bomb," Assam Rifles spokesman Shailesh said.

He said the bomb was meant to be detonated by a timer or pressure device, that meant that it would explode either at a particular time or whenever pressure was applied over it by the passage of a vehicle.

Shailesh said placing of bombs on routes used by civilians reflects the apathy which NSCN (K) displays towards the lives of Nagas.

"Their (NSCN-K) leaders live in comfort and luxury in Myanmar, they do not have any concern for the simple Nagas. Their only agenda is to create terror in the minds of the law abiding population," the Assam Rifles official said.

On Wednesday night, the NSCN-K rebels carried out unprovoked firing on an Assam Rifles post located at Chukitong village under Wokha district for the second time in 10 days.

No on was, however, injured in the attack.