Mortar shell found from pile of thones in Chooch Behar

Panic gripped the Votbari area of Mekhliganj in Cooch Behar district on Sunday morning after an army mortar shell was discovered near the Helapakari turn. Local residents stumbled upon the explosive device while removing stones from a pile, triggering an immediate alarm in the area. According to reports, as soon as the mortar shell was found, the manager of the stone heap, Ishq Ali, quickly informed the local police administration. In no time, news of the discovery spread like wildfire, drawing a curious crowd to the spot even as officials urged people to maintain distance.

Manager Ishq Ali revealed that the stones were brought from Totlabari, and it is suspected that the mortar shell came along with the transported load. The recovery raised serious concerns about the presence of potentially dangerous military material in civilian areas.

Responding swiftly, the Border Security Force (BSF) personnel arrived at the scene and safely took possession of the mortar shell. They secured the area and initiated a thorough inspection to rule out the presence of any other hazardous material.

It is important to note that two years ago, floods caused a dam to burst in Sikkim, washing away several army camps. At that time, the Teesta River carried many army weapons downstream. Since then, mortar shells and other military items have been sporadically recovered from various stone piles around Chengrabandha and adjoining areas.

The police and BSF have assured the residents that necessary measures are being taken to ensure safety. They have also appealed to transporters and stone traders to conduct checks on material sourced from vulnerable areas.