A powerful explosive device containing explosives was on Wednesday found near a venue in Guwahati for the National Games hours after five Hindi-speaking persons were injured in an attack by suspected United Liberation Front of Assam militants in Assam.

The device marked 'PTR 103' was found by a police patrol about two and half kilometres from the Sarusajai sports complex where a number of events of the National Games, slated to begin on February nine, will be held.

The device comprised RDX, a detonator, batteries and fuse wires and was defused, officials said.

The ULFA has asked people to boycott the Games and has threatened to disrupt the event.

On Monday, a similar programmable time device weighing over five kg and a grenade were found in a gunny bag three kilometres from the Sarusajai complex. The five Hindi-speaking persons were injured and three houses torched in a raid by ULFA militants at Khagrabil and Silonkati villages in Udalguri district last night, officials said.

The attack was believed to be in retaliation for the alleged killing of a Bodo youth in Bihar recently, they said.

Udalguri's Deputy Commissioner George Basumatary and state minister Rihon Daimary visited the two villages and assured Hindi-speaking people that they will be protected.

Seventy Hindi-speaking people were gunned down by the ULFA in a string of attacks earlier this month. The ULFA has also carried out a series of bomb attacks in different parts of the state.