Balurghat, Oct. 22 -- An unexploded artillery shell dating back to the 1971 India-Pakistan war for the liberation of Bangladesh was safely defused by the South Dinajpur District Police with assistance from a specialised team of the Indian Army. The operation took place on the riverbed of the Atreyee River in Pagliganj, located near Balurghat town.
According to police sources, Balurghat witnessed heavy shelling across various parts of the town during the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. After the conflict ended, several pieces of military hardware remained in the area, including this live shell. It had been stored in the armory of the Balurghat Police Lines for over five decades. Upon noticing the unexploded ordnance recently, the district police initiated steps to neutralise it. A specialist team from the Indian Army's operation wing subsequently inspected the shell and successfully detonated it on the riverbed in accordance with safety protocols. Police officials stated that the successful neutralisation has eliminated a long-standing potential safety hazard at the armory.
Commenting on the event, District Superintendent of Police Abhishek Gupta said: "The shell was lying around for more than 50 years and posed a potential security risk. It has now been safely transported and neutralised."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.