Sibsagar (Assam), May 17 - A powerful Improvised Explosive Device(IED), planted by suspected anti-talk ULFA militants, has been recovered near a gas pipeline between two tea gardens in Assam's Sibsagar district today.

Patrolling Army personnel of 99 Regiment recovered the powerful bomb, weighing more than three kilograms, from Teokghat area under Sonari police station of Charaideo sub-division, official sources said.

The bomb was placed near a pipeline supplying gas to two gardens - Aideopukhuri and Aideobari - and was suspected to be planted by ULFA militants in retaliation of the encounter with police on May 12 last in which a militant was severely injured.

Security forces pointed out that the ULFA has stepped up its activities in the district and had served extortion notices to several individuals and organisations.

The IED was later defused by army's bomb defusal squad, sources added. PTI