By IANS,
Imphal : Assam Rifles Wednesday recovered a powerful improvised explosive device (IED) planted by rebels on National Highway-102 connecting Manipur’s capital Imphal to Moreh town on border with Myanmar.
The troopers spotted a suspicious looking object buried in a pile of pebble astride the highway, an Assam Rifles official told IANS.
The remote-controlled IED explosive was housed in an aluminium container with around one kg of explosives with a timer mechanism for trigger.
“Had the troopers not detected the IED on the road, it would have killed innocents,” the official said.
The troopers sanitised and secured the area and the bomb disposal team later defused the explosive.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the rebels planted the IED to attack security forces.
No arrests have been made, but a manhunt is on to nab the rebels, police said.
There are more than 20 rebel outfits in Manipur with demands ranging from secession to greater autonomy for the state.