Old mortar shell found in Vasant Kunj, NSG called in

New Delhi: An old mortar shell was found abandoned outside a DDA Park at Vasant Kunj (North) in South Delhi on Saturday morning, thus leading to sensation in the locality with police cordoning off the area and calling the National Security Guard (NSG) to diffuse it.

The locals spotted the mortar shell lying in a dustbin located outside the DDA Park in the Kishan Garh locality in Vasant Kunj area. They informed the police and a team reached the spot 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 (North). The entire area has been cordoned off and evacuated as a precautionary measure,” said a senior police officer.

Even after the area was cordoned off, curious onlookers tried to catch a glimpse of the object that was discovered.

“We requested the locals to cooperate and stop any person from spreading rumours about the old mortar. The situation was in control,” added the police official.

The National Security Guards (NSG) was requested to send a team for carrying out the necessary drill to diffuse the shell, he said.

The police added that the old and corroded shell, which was encrusted with rust, has been covered with a “bomb blanket” to avert any accidental blast.

Later, the BDS team of NSG, using sophisticated ROV (robot) machine, carefully picked the unexploded explosive ordinance, referred to as UXO in technical term. They 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 the fuse intact but of old vintage, said the officer.

“The legal action is being taken in the matter. More details about the mortar can only be known after full technical investigations,” he said.