A sophisticated rocket bomb was recovered by police on Saturday from a forest near Keonjhar town triggering panic among local residents.
It was suspected that
the bomb was meant for use by Maoists.
Sources said locals spotted a suspicious box lying inside the Gandhamardana forest near Gopala Sahi in Suakathi under the Sadar police station and informed police about it.
Police rushed to the spot to take stock of the situation and found a rocket bomb stored in a wooden box. After receiving information, bomb disposal squad personnel reached the site and recovered the bomb.
From preliminary investigation, police suspected that the bomb might have fallen off while being transported by Maoists.
It was the first time a rocket bomb was recovered in the State.
Sources said similar bombs are used by Maoists to attack the camps of security forces in Chhattisgarh. The Red rebels have added it to their armoury among other lethal weapons.