PTI 
 
Coimbatore, Jul 22: Timely arrest of a gang and seizure of explosive material, including IED, in the city helped avert a major blast planned in the government hospital in Coimbatore on Saturday, a top official said.

Based on definite information about manufacture of IED, a special team searched the house of Harun Basha and his brother Malik Basha in Kurichi, on the city outskirts on Saturday morning, city police commissioner Karan Singka told reporters.

Some papers recovered from the house revealed the gang's plan to execute the blast in Coimbatore Medical College Hospital with IED and country bomb, he said.

Based on information given by them, police went to the house of Ravi alias Tipu Sultan and Bola Shankar alias A Rahman and recovered about 300 grams of gunpowder, battery, wires and a half finished country bomb.

They were said to have received training in bomb making in Mattuthevanpatti Arivagam in Madurai district.

Meanwhile, one Shamsuddin, another gang member, was also nabbed, and was said to be the mastermind behind the conspiracy of executing the blasts.

All the five had been arrested and cases registered under sections of Conspiracy and Explosive Substances Act, Singka said, adding further investigations regarding the gang's plans for planting bombs at some other places were on.