PESHAWAR, Nov 2: Police foiled a possible sabotage attempt here on Friday and defused a powerful explosive device planted at the busy Chowk Yadgar.

An official of Kotwali police station told Dawn that terrorists had planted a bomb with the wall of a dispensary within the premises of Ghanta Ghar.

“Someone informed us about a suspected tin placed beside the wall.

A police team was rushed to the spot to take protective measures.

The bomb disposal unit was called and the people were asked to stay away from the area and,” he said.

The BDU personnel, he said, successfully defused the explosive at about 10am. He said that the bomb was packed in a canister and it weighed about three kilograms.

A case against unidentified terrorists was registered at Kotwali police station.

The official said that efforts were being made to get any clue about the people behind the sabotage attempt.

Meanwhile, police also claimed to have arrested 52 accused persons during raids in different parts of Peshawar on Friday. Of them, 10 are proclaimed offenders who are wanted to police in different crimes at various police stations.

The police also recovered four Kalashnikovs, two rifles, 21 pistols and 52 kilograms of hashish from their possession.

The accused were charged under different sections at the police stations concerned.