Bhubaneswar, March 6: Panic gripped Gothapatana in Chandaka police station limits after six crude bombs were found near a bush in a residential area. This is the third incident of residents spotting explosives in the area in seven days.

A group of local boys first bumped into the bombs and informed other local residents. The police were informed shortly afterwards. The bomb disposal squad rushed to the spot and destroyed the explosives by detonating those.

Though the police could not ascertain how the explosives came to the place, officers suspected that someone might have kept the bombs to create unrest during the recently-concluded rural polls.

The police said the bombs were more powerful than the conventional crude ones. "Our men will search the area, including the nearby households, to find out if anyone has stored the explosives. We are also trying to ascertain whether any local resident is involved in making the bombs," said of police commissioner Satyabrata Bhoi.

Sources said that country-made bombs were manufactured in Jatni and Pipili areas. "Several notorious criminals are involved in making these explosives using gunpowder and nails," said a police officer.

The police claimed they took adequate preventive measures while diffusing the bombs through controlled explosion.

In October 2012, one police person was killed and five others injured when a bomb exploded during diffusion at Gambhari in Puri district.

Local residents demanded immediate arrest of the culprits involved in the incident. "This is the third such incident in a week in our area. We suspect that a bomb manufacturing unit is operating here. We cannot even let our children play outside," said local resident Ashok Samal.