Live bomb found near Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s residence
A live bombshell was found near Kansal and Nayagaon T-point in Chandigarh on Monday evening, officials said, adding the area, where the bombshell was found was not more than 3 km from Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann’s residence. The bomb was found in a mango park, near Rajindra park.
Police said as soon as they received the information regarding the bomb, they reached the spot immediately and cordoned off the area.
A bomb disposal squad was immediately dispatched to the spot. The administration also informed the army about the incident.
“We have secured the live shell and the area has been cordoned off,” said Sanjeev Kohli, nodal officer, disaster management, Chandigarh.
Police teams from both Mohali and Chandigarh reached the spot after getting information.
Police said the shell was placed in an explosive-proof red drum and put in a ditch and covered with jute bags filled with sand. A tubewell operator informed them after spotting a bombshell, police said.
The area is considered high-security as Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar’s residence is close by apart from Punjab and Haryana Secretariat and Assembly are also close by apart from the helipad used by Punjab chief minister.
“There is no need to panic. The area was secured and barricaded to restrict the movement of locals. The army has been informed. We will wait for its team to arrive,” said Shruti Arora, superintendent of police (SP), Chandigarh city.
Arora along with the senior superintendent of police (SP) Manisha Choudhary inspected the spot in the evening.
Chandigarh police in a statement issued late at night saying “an abandoned artillery shell generally used by the armed forces was found in the middle of a mango orchard near Naya Gaon, Punjab-Chandigarh border. On prima facie examination by the bomb disposal squad (BDS) of Chandigarh police and discussion with army officials, it appears to be a misfired shell but all precautions are being taken to cordon off. The BDS from Chandimandir has been requested to visit the spot at the earliest and for further necessary action.”
It may be mentioned that earlier too bombshells were found in the area close to the chief minister’s residence.