Chennai, Oct 29 (IANS): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa Saturday praised a villager, one of her party workers and the bomb disposal squad for detecting and defusing a bomb under a small bridge near Madurai where Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani was to pass.

In a statement issued here, Jayalalithaa said: "The pipe bomb kept under the bridge in Alampatti village was detected by a villager Selvaraj and police was informed by AIADMK councillor Mohan. The police acted fast and defused the bomb."

She said Advani called and thanked her Saturday for foiling the evil plot. Jayalalithaa said the police had registered a case and were investigating.

The "pipe bomb" packed with eight kg of explosives was discovered Friday following a tip-off from local residents. Police also seized a 25 metre wire connected to it, well before Advani started his anti-graft Jan Chetna Yatra from Madurai, around 450 km from here.

The second leg of Advani's yatra began from Madurai Friday morning. His nationwide yatra, aimed at fighting black money and corruption, started Oct 11 and will end Nov 20.