Security forces on Sunday recovered a powerful 40-kg 'Improvised Explosive Device' (IED), planted by Maoists eight years back in Chhattisgarh’s Bastar district on National Highway 63, police said.
The input was provided by a surrendered Maoist.
The explosive which packed in a big steel container was unearthed from Bastanar valley coming under Kodenar police station limits of the district, according to Bastar District Superintendent of Police (SP) R N Dash said.
Ramesh, who recently surrendered in Narayanpur district, during interrogation revealed that a powerful landmine was planted around 1.5 km away from Bastanar Chowk towards Geedam on the highway that connects Jagdalpur to Dantewada and Bijapur district headquarters, he said.
Acting on Ramesh’s tip, a team of local police along with Bomb Disposal Squad (BDS) recovered the explosive from the Bastanar valley, the SP informed.
“The IED was planted in 2008 when the road was single-lane and kuchcha before construction” said Dash.
He said that the recovery was a “major success” while adding that the IED was immediately neutralized by the BDS.