A bomb disposal squad of the Nepal Army (NA) defused an improvised explosive device (IED) found at Bhanuchowk market in Dharan on Sunday.

The IED was placed at a road section that leads to Niketan School in the wake of Koshi bandh called by Netra Bikram Chand-led Communist Party of Nepal demanding release of its cadres.

The NA bomb disposal squad defused the IED at around 8:30am today.

Meanwhile, the general strike called by the Maoist-splinter party has remained ineffective in Dharan.