The special operations group (SOG) of the Gadchiroli police seized an improvised explosive device (IED) weighing 20 kg that was hidden below a road in the Bhamragad area on Monday afternoon, along with detonators and other bomb apparatus. While no arrests have been made so far, the police said that the Naxals might have been planning to blow up a police vehicle.
The SOG officers were patrolling the area and carrying out search operations when the officers spotted wires spread out near a road near Kumurguda nullah in Bhamragad.
“The officers then found that the wire was connected to something dug below the road. After digging for over four feet, the officers found that the wire was connected to an IED, which when weighed was found to be of 20 kg,” said sub-inspector Jayshri Shetty from Gadchiroli.
According to Ms Shetty, the SOG officers immediately contacted the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad that went to the spot and dismantled the bomb. “We have also recovered two detonators, a booster and cortex from the spot, among other material,” she said. Another officer said that the explosives have now been sent to the forensics laboratory for analysis.
According to an officer, this is the modus operandi of the Naxals.
“The Naxals place such bombs below the roads and then trigger the bombs when any administrative or police vehicle passes over them. One person or a group of Naxals stay at a distance and then detonate the bomb through electronic devices like cellphones, cameras etc,” the officer said. These attacks usually take place when the police is on its way to a meeting with villagers in the area.