Old, corroded mortar shell found in Vasant Kunj

An unexploded mortar shell was found in South Delhi's Vasant Kunj area by a DDA guard who was deployed in Machli Park when he stumbled upon the mortar early on Saturday morning. The cops were alerted by him at around 8.30 am.

Soon, the police team from the local police station rushed to Machli Park and cordoned off the area. The bomb disposal squad was called in together with the fire brigade and National Security Guards who have an expertise in handling such cases. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Chinmoy Biswal said: "Staff from the nearest police station were immediately deployed.

The entire area was secured by the police and the object was covered with a bomb blanket as an interim measure." Soon, a BDS team of the National Security Guard arrived at the scene and picked up the explosive using a remotely operated vehicle.

The mortar was then placed in a blast-proof vessel for transportation to Manesar, where it would be disposed off after the security precautions. The cops are scanning the CCTV cameras around the area to get some clue about when and who left the unexploded mortar in a dustbin. On being asked if it is capable of exploding, Chinmoy Biswal, said: "That can be said after full technical investigations. During disposal too, a UXO may not explode as it may have lost its potency."

UXOs or Unexploded Ordnances are mortars that could not explode when they were employed but still pose a risk of detonation, even many years after being left or discarded. "From visual inspection, the UXO appears to be foreign-made one with the fuse intact but of old vintage," said a senior officer. However, the concern of the cops is to know the purpose for which the mortar was brought to Delhi. A case under the Explosive Substance Act has been registered by the Delhi Police.