A major tragedy was averted on Friday with timely detection of a powerful Improvised Explosive Device (IED) in Shopian district.
The 10-kg IED, planted by militants beneath a culvert, was detected by police during patrolling near Sheermaal, 52 kms from here, and was subsequently defused by the bomb disposal squad this afternoon, official sources said.
They said timely detection of the IED scuttled militants attempt to set off a powerful explosion ahead of Republic Day in the State.
Authorities have already put the security forces on high alert across the state following intelligence inputs that militants are planning major strikes in a bid to disrupt the R-Day celebrations.
This is the second time within a week that the police detected and defused an IED in South Kashmir. On Friday last, police detected and defused a five-kg IED on College Road in Pulwama town.
However, militants managed to trigger an IED under a bridge at Tral in Pulwama district on Monday, injuring six policemen including a deputy superintendent of police besides damaging a vehicle.
