Nuapada (Odisha), May 18 - Three powerful tiffin bombs planted by suspected Maoists were detected by security personnel engaged in combing operations in Odisha's Naxal-hit Nuapada district.

The personnel from the District Voluntary Force and the elite Special Operation Group were carrying out the operation in the Dharambandha area yesterday when they stumbled upon the explosives buried on the road between Bharuamunda and Lodra, about 20 km from here, SP Umashankar Das said.

"With the timely seizure of the powerful explosives, a major tragedy has been averted," the SP said.

The bomb disposal squad of the police rushed to the area, spotted the bombs, each weighing six kg and kept in separate containers, and successfully defused them, he said.

The Dharmabandha police outpost was in the news recently after its assistant sub-inspector of police Kruparam Majhi was abducted and shot dead by the ultras on May 8.

The combing operation has been intensified in the area after the incident. PTI