Police in eastern India say security forces have defused a powerful bomb found on a train carrying about 1,000 passengers.

Senior police officials in Assam state said security forces were conducting a routine search when they found an unattended small, but heavy, bag before the train arrived in Guwahati. They discovered what they called a “neatly concealed” bomb.

Authorities said it was an improvised explosive device weighing about five kilograms and fitted with a timer. They called it a “powerful bomb.”

Officials evacuated passengers before bomb disposal experts disabled the device.

No one immediately claimed responsibility for Friday's attempted bombing, but officials say they suspect a local militant group opposed to peace talks with the government was involved.