Dibrugarh: Panic spread among residents of the Rajamoidam locality in Jorhat after sanitation workers found a suspected vintage mortar shell wedged inside an open drain during routine cleaning operations along Cemetery Road on Tuesday.The military-style object was spotted in sludge during desilting work along the Tokolai drain network. The civic crew immediately suspended work and notified local authorities after noticing the heavy, corroded metal cylinder.A police team, led by additional superintendent of police (Crime) Abhishek Kumar Yadav, reached the spot, cordoned off the drain and set up a safety perimeter to keep people away.“The anti-bomb squad at the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon were called in to ascertain the nature of the object,” Yadav said. The object was safely retrieved and transferred to an undisclosed location for detailed explosive testing and investigation, he added.Investigators suspect the heavy metal piece could be a vintage artillery projectile, a mortar shell or rocket-propelled grenade ammunition, possibly dating back to World War II. Security officials said seasonal river currents might have washed the vintage ammunition downstream into the urban drainage network along with silt and debris. However, authorities have not ruled out other potential sources.Explosive experts will conduct controlled diagnostic tests to determine the object’s origin, firing mechanism and whether it still retains an active explosive charge.Following the discovery, police issued a public advisory urging local residents to remain vigilant and avoid touching or washing any suspicious metallic objects found during excavation or drainage work. “Anyone who spots suspected ammunition must step back immediately and contact the nearest police post,” the department said.
