BJD workers informed the police after spotting the bomb (Representational)
A bomb fitted with a timer was found near the camp office of Talcher BJD MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan in Odisha's Angul district on Friday, the police said.
The police rushed to the spot on receiving information, cordoned off the area, and called in the bomb disposal squad, Talcher sub-divisional police officer Manas Ranjan Barik told news agency PTI.
"The bomb disposal squad defused the bomb on the instruction of the Angul superintendent of police. The bomb was fitted with a timer. We will send it to the laboratory for further examination and to know whether any explosive materials are inside the bomb," Mr Barik said.
The police are scanning the area near Mr Pradhan's camp office to find if any other such object is there. Investigation is underway to arrest those involved in the case, he said.
The incident took place on a day when Angul district BJD leaders and workers organised a road blockade on NH-53 to protest against its poor condition. Mr Pradhan and his supporters were scheduled to take out a rally from the office premises.
The bomb was spotted by some party workers, who informed the police.
Braja Kishore Pradhan alleged that some conspirators may have planted the bomb to disturb the protest rally.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)