Live bomb found near Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's residence

Punjab CM's Security Chief ADGP A K Pandey said there was no need to panic as it was far away from the CM's house and such shells were found earlier as well.

New Delhi, Jan 02: A live bomb shell was found in a mango garden on the Nayagaon-Kansal T-point, which is about a kilometre away from the helipad and about two kilometres from the official residences of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and his Haryana counterpart Manohar Lal Khattar

"A live bombshell has been found here. It has been secured with help of Police and Bomb Disposal Squad. An Army team has been called in. The area is being cordoned off. Further investigation is underway," said Sanjeev Kohli, Nodal officer, Diasater Management, Chandigarh.

As soon as the police received information that a bomb-like object had been found in the high-security area, they reached the spot and cordoned off the area. A bomb disposal squad was also dispatched to the spot.

In the past, there have been cases of scrap dealers collecting used shells from the vicinity of military firing ranges.

Punjab Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) A K Pandey, who reached the spot, said it appears to be a ''misfired shell''.

There are many scrap dealers in the area where the shell was found. It is being investigated if anyone could have discarded it here, he said.

''The area (where the shell was found) is about 2.5 km from the (Punjab) CM's residence,'' said Pandey. ''It is not like anyone has planted a bomb,'' he added.

Senior Superintendent of Police, Chandigarh, Manisha Choudhary said, ''The bomb detection squad of Chandigarh police has inspected the site and the object. The object has been safely isolated and we have informed the Army authorities at Chandimandir.'' ''We have requested the (Army's) bomb disposal squad to come and dispose it of accordingly,'' she said.

Choudhary said only Army authorities will be able to tell the exact nature of the object.

Reacting to the development, Congress leader Amarinder Singh Warring called it a serious incident and demanded that all aspects must be probed.

Congress leader Amarinder Singh Warring tweeted: "Live bomb near CM @BhagwantMann 's residence is a serious matter. Needs to be probed from all aspects and dealt with firmly. Those having audacity to keep live bomb so close to Punjab CM's residence can resort to anything. @INCIndia always believes in Zero Tolerance to terror."