Abandoned mortar shell found in park; NSG diffuses it

An abandoned mortar shell was found outside a DDA park at Vasant Kunj (North) in south Delhi this morning, creating sensation in the area, with the police cordoning off the area and calling National Security Guard (NSG) for diffusing it.

The locals spotted the mortar shell lying outside the DDA park in Kishan Garh locality in Vasant Kunj area. They informed the police who reached there and cordoned off the entire area.

"A PCR call was received around 8.30 AM regarding the finding of the mortar shell near the park Machli Wala, Samadhi Van village, Kishan Garh, in Vasant Kunj(N). The entire area has been cordoned off and evacuated as a precautionary measure," said a senior police officer.

The bomb disposal squad of National Security Guard (NSG) carefully picked the unexploded explosive ordinance, referred to as UXO in technical language, using sophisticated ROV (robot) machine, he said.

The squad placed it in a TCV (total containment vessel), to be carried to Manesar where it will be disposed off following standard protocols.

From visual inspection, the UXO appears to be foreign-made with its fuse intact but of old vintage, said the officer.

"The necessary legal action is being taken in the matter. More details about the mortar can only be known after full technical investigations," he said, adding that an UXO may not explode even during disposal as it may have lost its potency.

In a similar incident, three 120 mm shells of World War II vintage were found on April 14 last year at a DRDO facility here when labourers were engaged in construction work in the compound, where a new building was to come up.

The NSG later diffused it under "controlled conditions" at its camp in Manesar near here.