A powerful improvised explosive device (IED), suspected to have been planted by Naxals, was today found in Chhattisgarh’s Kondagaon district. The home-made bomb, weighing 18 kg, was unearthed this morning by a team of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) from under a culvert on the Keshkal-Vishrampuri Road, an official from the paramilitary force official told media.

Security forces launched a combing operation after receiving information about the presence of an IED wire connection near Kohkameta village, about 6.5 km from Keshkal. On reaching the spot, they detected the explosive hidden under the culvert, he added.

The IED was immediately defused by a Bomb Disposal Squad, the official said, adding the explosive was planted to target security personnel in the insurgency affected district.