World War-II Explosives found in Nicobar Islands

Port Blair, Jan 8: Huge quantity of explosives of World War II hasbeen found in Car Nicobar Island of Andaman and Nicobar Chain duringconstruction of shelter for Tsunami hit people here, police said.

While digging earth for construction of Tsunami Permanent Shelterat Sawai village of Car Nicobar, workers found a huge iron boxcontaining ammunition, hand grenades, shells and explosives,Superintendent of Police Nicobar District Narendra Kumar Bundela toldUNI.

Mr Bundela said explosive experts from Andaman and NicobarTri-Service Joint Defence Command would visit the site today for properdisposal of the explosives, first seen on Saturday in the remote tribalvillage.

''It seems that these explosives date to the period when theseislands were under the rule of Japanese forces. According to reportsJapanese soldiers had a base in the said village during World War II,''the SP said.

Some 84 shells and 220 hand-grenades half-a-kilo of loose explosives were found from the site.

''We are awaiting deep search metal detectors and once we get thatour staff would comb the whole island to make sure there is no moreexplosive hidden anywhere,'' he said.

UNI >