Rourkela, May 2: Railway police recovered an explosive near tracks on the Odisha-Jharkhand border today.

Police sources said the railway protection force (RPF) here received an intelligence input that an explosive had been placed near the railway tracks on the Howrah-Mumbai route. The exact location was between Ramda in Odisha and Karampada in Jharkhand range.

Deputy superintendent of police (RPF) Alok Jena said: "Acting on a tip-off, forces were immediately deployed, and train services had been suspended on that route for seven hours," he said.

"As the track is used exclusively by goods trains, no passenger train services were affected. Services resumed late afternoon," said Jena.

The explosive, kept inside a steel container, was inside a sack. It was kept some five metres from the tracks with wires attached to it. Residents saw the sack and informed the police.

A forest fire in the nearby areas had already burnt a portion of the wire connected to the explosive, leaving it ineffective. Besides, local people found the explosive lying in the open, said the police officials.

The bomb disposal squad of the CRPF neutralised the device. However, it has not yet been ascertained whether it was handiwork of Maoists.

PLFI arrest

Rajgangpur police yesterday arrested five members of the People's Liberation Front of India (PLFI) and seized four single round country-made pistols, 50 cartridges, nine mobile phones and three bikes.

The five arrested are Muna alias Ashok Gope, Bineswar Nanda, Bindeswar Nanda, Baldev Larang and Suryakant Nanda. Except Bineswar, who is above 50, rest are in the age group of 25-30.

"They were arrested after Govind Kujur, secretary of a pani panchayat, filed a complaint against Muna. They demanded Rs 50,000 from him and threatened him with dire consequences. Kujur then lodged a complaint with us," said Nayak.

Jharkhand resident Muna married to Bineswar's niece.

He was in touch with Rajesh Gope, the PLFI area commander, and trying to revive the activities of the gang here.

Bineswar and Baldev are accused in the murder case of a BJD activist, Hardeep Singh of Kansbahal, which took place two years ago.