NEW DELHI, Jan 14: A crude but powerful bomb was found in the Ghazipur Flower Market in East Delhi on Friday morning. The police, a bomb disposal squad and the National Security Guard (NSG) conducted a controlled explosion to neutralise the Improvised Explosive Device (IED), which contained about 3 kg of explosives, capable of inflicting heavy damage.

A bag containing the bomb was found on a scooty which was abandoned by a customer at 9:30 am, a time when thousands of customers and florists gather. A flower seller nearby, suspecting something foul, called the police.

An 8-foot pit was dug to carry out a controlled blast of the bomb. The police said the explosive was a nitrate and RDX mix and the detonating device could be a clock or a mobile phone. A timer was attached to the bomb.

"Ensuring no casualties, #DelhiPolice recovers IED in Ghazipur Phool Mandi. Device was disposed of by NSG's Bomb Disposal Squad using a controlled explosion," Delhi Police tweeted.

Coming ahead of Republic Day, the IED discovery has created a scare across Delhi. Security has been tightened in the Capital. The market where the abandoned scooty and the bag were found is located on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border. Assembly elections are also due in UP next month.