Nine Mortar Shells found in tea garden

Siliguri, Dec 27 (UNI) Local villagers today found nine mortar shells abandoned in a tea garden at Bidhannagar, about 35 kms west of this commercial town, where bomb squads from police and army rushed to the spot for investigations.

Deputy Superintendent of Police, Siliguri, Pradip Kumar Dutta, said the farmers and workers of Paikpara village while working on the field found the shells packed in three boxes. They later informed to the local police station.

Mr Dutta quoting preliminary investigations conducted by the bomb experts from CID and army as saying the mortar shells were of very old in nature.

The findings created panic among the local villagers, whose primary occupation is growing tea and pineapples.

Mr Dutta said it was yet to be confirmed whether the shells were live or used ones as final reports of the findings were awaited.

UNI