Kathmandu, Nov.9: Police defused a powerful time bomb in the premises of Biratnagar Jute Mills Thursday morning three hours before it was set to explode, police said.

Factory workers who came to report for the morning shift at 8 AM heard a clock clicking and immediately alerted police who deactivated the bomb.

The bomb was set to go off at 11 AM , police said. Biratnagar is the hometown of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala. Other details were not available.