A Police team stumbled upon a powerful landmine that had been planted under a culvert on a road connecting Bokaro Thermal-Khashmshal near Kurkpania in Bokaro’s Bermo here today, said Bokaro SP Chandan Kumar Jha.
According to Bermo SDPO, Satish Chandra Jha the mine weighing 15kg — capable of blowing up an armoured anti-landmine vehicle — had been planted at a site barely 3 kilometres away from Bokaro thermal police station.
The police could not confirm whether they were the target, but said the mine was recovered around 9.30 am, half an hour before local police and their entourage usually crossed the culvert.
Police could not also say whether the planting of the mine was the handiwork of Naxalites, as the area was relatively “peaceful” compared to Gomia blocks of Bokaro district.
Police said the local villagers first spotted some wires and then found the mine while grazing cattle. They immediately raised an alarm and informed village elders who got in touch with Gandhinagar police.
A team of security officers, including Bermo SDPO, Satish Chandra Jha, Inspector Ravindra Kumar Singh of Bokaro Thermal P.S., Inspector Bermo, Gajendra Panday, Commandant, Narayan Baloni of CRPF’s 26th battalion,soon rushed to the spot along with members of a bomb squad. The mine was defused and carried away to the CRPF camp for inspection.
Jha said a police patrolling party crossed the area everyday in the morning.
“It is not the first time that a landmine has been detected in the area, while the entire area has been known to be peaceful for the last few years. Let the police investigate and find out the culprits,” the SDPO said.
Bokaro SP Chandan Kumar Jha said they were not ruling out anything and investigations were on. “We have asked the CRPF and security forces present in the area to step up vigil and stay alert,” he added.