The NSG was requested to send a team in order to carry out necessary drill to examine, transport or diffuse the object. Meanwhile, the shell, weighing around 2.5 kg, which looked old and corroded, was secured by a bomb blanket sourced from District BDS as an interim measure, added the senior officer.
Panic struck residents in south Delhi's Kishangarh area near Vasant Kunj after a mortar shell was found lying in a garbage bin on Saturday morning. Sleuths of Intelligence Bureau, Delhi Police, National Security Guards and firefighters were rushed in to take control of the situation and the entire area was evacuated and sealed. The presence of the shell came to light when a passerby spotted it lying in a garbage bin and alerted neighbours, who then called up the police. A team from the Vasant Kunj police station was the first to respond and other agencies concerned were also alerted.
"At 8.30 am, a PCR call regarding a mortar shell found lying abandoned at Park Machli Wala locality was received. A team led by ACP KP Kukreti reached the spot and the entire area was cordoned off and evacuated as a precautionary measure," a senior police officer said.
"The NSG was requested to send a team in order to carry out necessary drill to examine, transport or diffuse the object. Meanwhile, the shell, weighing around 2.5 kg, which looked old and corroded, was secured by a bomb blanket sourced from District BDS as an interim measure," added the senior officer.
The Bomb Disposal Squad of NSG arrived at the spot and used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to carefully pick the unexploded explosive ordinance (UXO) and placed it in a total containment vessel to be carried to Manesar, where it will be disposed off following standard protocols.
Sources said that the primary probe revealed that the shell was probably of foreign make. "From visual inspection, the UXO appears to be foreign made with intact fuse but vintage. Necessary legal action is also being taken and efforts to probe from where did it reach the residential area, are also being made," said another officer.
Police also said that whether the UXO could have exploded, or had lost its potency, can only be confirmed only once it undergoes full technical investigation. "CCTV cameras in and around the locality are being scanned in order to find out who dumped the shell at the spot. Locals are also being questioned," the police said.
Heavy police deployment was ensured till late afternoon in the area. Nearby areas were also scanned following the scare, before the spot was cleared for public use.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "mortar shell")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}