125 IEDs detected by CoBRA commandos in J'khand

Ranchi, June 21: Foiling

' plan of a major ambush, security forces in

on Saturday detected and destroyed 125 improvised bombs planted in a series along a road in Lohardaga district.

Officials said the explosives were detected at around 10 am in Madanpur-Lawapani area of the district when a CoBRA commando team of CRPF was on patrol.

The troops of the specialised anti-Maoist force of the paramilitary recovered the 125 Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) cleverly hidden beneath a dirt track which is usually taken for routine movement in the area. "Once the IEDs were activated it could have claimed numerous lives.

Experts are now checking for any signs of Maoists in the area and are also looking for the trigger mechanism of the locally assembled bombs," a senior official said.

The IEDs, connected by cordex wires for ignition, were destroyed by the security personnel and they estimate a few hundred kilograms of explosives could have been used to make these bombs aimed at targeting security forces deployed in the area for anti-Naxal operations. Lohardaga district is about 77 km from here.

PTI