Crude IED seized in Chandrapur, 10 kg explosive in Gadchiroli

Nagpur, May 26 (UNI) A crude improvised explosive device (IED), packed with low-intensity explosive normally used in fireworks, was seized in neighbouring Chandrapur district today.

Chandrapur district additional superintendent of police Sudhakar Pathare told UNI over telephone that the IED was seized at village Sitar in Rajura tehsil, about 35 kilometres from the district headquarters, this afternoon.

The IED consisted of 100 grams of explosive, a bulb, a wick, a 1.5-volt pencil cell and a switch, he said, adding that heat from the bulb was intended to set the wick on fire, which, in turn, would ignite the explosives.

Mr Pathare said the device was likely to cause severe damage within a radius of two to three feet.

Although it was not yet known as to who might have planted the IED, the police is taking the matter seriously and have sent it for analysis, he said.

Naxalites were not known to use this kind of IED, he added.

Meanwhile, a landmine, apparently planted to target the police, was seized in Gadchiroli district yesterday.

About 10 kgs of liquid explosive in a steel container buried underground, two detonators and about 200 ft of wire were detected on a road near village Gawalitola, according to a police press release.

The landmine is suspected to have been planted by Korchi and Kurkheda dalams of the naxalites, the press release added.

UNI