Jammu: Security forces on Sunday defused an improvised explosive device (IED) found during a search operation and averted a major tragedy in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir.

Confirming about the incident, police said that joint team of police, Special Operations Group, Army have already launched searches in Rajouri to track down terrorists involved in January 1, Dhangri village killings, adding, "during a search on specific inputs, one IED was found in a box in village Dandote of tehsil Budhal."

The bomb disposal squad was immediately called in and the device was defused on the spot, police added.

(With UNI inputs)