IEDs found hours before Jairam Ramesh\'s programme in Saranda

Chaibasa (Jharkhand), Jan 30 (PTI) Security forces today detected three IEDs in Maoist-affected Saranda forest in West Singhbhum district, hours before Union Rural Development minister Jairam Ramesh's programme there. "The IEDs were detected during a search operation early in the morning. But it should not be linked with the minister's visit because they had been planted by the Maoists long back," West Singhbhum SP Arun Kumar Singh said here. The IEDs were defused after being detected about 500-600 metres away from the venue where Ramesh laid the foundation stone for various developmental projects worth Rs 250 crore in the villages situated near Saranda. When informed about the recovery, Union Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said he did not know about any such recovery and the programmes he attended went without a hitch. It was Ramesh's third visit to Saranda in the last six months.