Ranchi, June 7 (IANS) The National Investigation Agency (NIA), in a joint operation with the Jharkhand Police, recovered live bombs from the outskirts of Ranchi Saturday, informed police sources said.

The recovery of the bombs averted major incidents here.

According to police, the bombs were recovered from Sithiyo village of Ranchi. The bombs were kept along with the timers and hidden in a suitcase, a bucket and a tub.

"Six bombs have been recovered from Sithoyo village" Jharkhand police spokesperson Anurag Gupta told IANS.

The police sources, however, said 17 bombs were recovered.

A NIA team is in Ranchi along with two suspected activists of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), Haider and Mujibul.

The joint NIA-police team raided house of Numan, already arrested in the Oct 27, 2013 Patna serial blasts case. The bombs were kept inside the floor of the house.

According to police sources, the IM planned blasts in Ranchi and spotted 17 places, including the Jharkhand State Cricket Stadium and the railway station.

Six suspected IM men have been arrested from Jharkhand in connection with last year's serial blasts that took place at the Gandhi Maidan where BJP leader Narendra Modi was addressing an election rally.