Imphal, February 07: Timely detection of a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) weighting 15 kgs which was found planted this morning at Uchiwa along Mayai Lambi under Mayang Imphal Police Station has averted a major tragedy.

Significantly, the bomb was detected just a few minutes before BJP National vice president Venkaiah Naidu and his men were to pass through the route to attend the flag hoisting ceremony of its candidate, H Nikunja in Mayang Imphal AC.

As directed by the police, Naidu and his team took an alternate route to reach Mayang Imphal.

Taking a serious note of the incident, Naidu said that the bomb might have been planted by militants either to attack a national political leader like him or to create fear psychosis amongst the public.

According to police the bomb was planted by the proscribed PLA to target security forces in connection with the coming 9th Manipur Legislative Assembly election.

Two PLA activists have been arrested in this connection and large quantity of explosive material recovered from them.

Talking to mediapersons in this connection, Imphal West SP Clay Khongsai informed that a combined force of Imphal East and West Police Commandos and personnel of 130 CRPF and 22 Maratha Light Infantry conducted a search operation in Mayang Imphal area from 4 am to 11 am today.

During the course of operation, the combined force detected a powerful IED along the main road of Uchiwa.

The bomb experts of the Police Department were called to remove the bomb.

The explosive device which was in the shape of Khang weighed around 15 kgs and fitted with wires and 15 pencil batteries.

Soon after the detection of the bomb, the combined force spread out and intensified the search operation in the surrounding areas as well.

At that moment, two youths came out from the side of Sekmaijin in a Hero Honda (Pulser MN06S-6722) in a suspicious manner.

During the course of interrogation, it was established that both of them are PLA activists belonging to the Auxiliary Group of the outfit and they have planted the bomb, the SP said, adding both the PLA activists have been taken into police custody.

The SP identified the two arrested youths as Ningthoujam Rakesh alias Ibungcha alias Sathouba (21) s/o N Lilachandra of Nongdam Pukhri Achouba and Thokchom Chandrakumar alias Chamba (27) s/o Th Pari Singh of Mongsangei Mayai Leikai but presently staying at Sekmaijin Maning Leikai.

Rakesh belongs to 2004 batch of the outfit and his army no.is 2576 while Chandrakumar belongs to 1999 batch and his army no.is 1823. The two arrested persons have also revealed that the bomb had been planted by them along with two other persons last night for attacking BSF/Assam Rifles and Commandos on election duty.

About 2 kgs of explosive chemical power, two detonators with wire, two remote controls, three explosive detonations, one soldering iron, of soldering paste, one gas lighter, one soldering wire, one meter indicator marked as Mastech and one 9 mm pistol with one magazine containing three live rounds have been recovered from their possession.

Besides two vehicles, one Karizma light blue in colour (MN-01N-3311) and one Scooter Bajaj silver colour (MN-1J-4784) which were hidden inside a pond have also been seized from them.

The SP said it was lucky that the bomb was detected, otherwise a major tragedy could have occurred.

The bomb expert of the Police Dept safely defused the bomb after taking to Irilbung at around 4 pm today.