A powerful improvised explosive device planted by Maoists in an insurgency-hit pocket of Gariyaband district was today recovered by security forces, police said.
"The explosive, weighing 15-20 kg, was unearthed by a joint team of District Force and Central Reserve Police Force's 65th battalion from the forested Mainpur-Kulhadighat Road under Mainpur police station limits," Gariyaband Additional Superintendent of Police L David told PTI.
He said the IED was planted with an intention to harm the troopers who had launched an anti-Maoist operation towards Kulhadighat, located around 120 kms away from here.
"When the security personnel were cordoning off the route, they spotted theIEDplaced in a steel container under the ground, about one km ahead of Kulhadighat village," the officer said, adding, the explosivewas neutralised by the bomb disposal squad.
