Kolkata3 hours agoAuthor: Tirthankar Das
A mortar shell believed to have been used during World War II was recovered from the riverbed of the Damodar in Sonamukhi, Bankura, on Monday evening.
Fishermen alert police after spotting object Local fishermen spotted a large, metal, cylindrical object partially buried in the sand on the riverbed. Suspecting it to be a mortar shell, they immediately informed the Sonamukhi Police Station. Police personnel reached the spot soon after and cordoned off the area to prevent any untoward incident. The Army was subsequently informed so that the shell could be examined and safely neutralised.
Bankura has seen similar recoveries The recovery of old mortar shells from riverbeds is not new in Bankura. Similar shells have been recovered from the beds of the Damodar and Dwarakeswar rivers on several occasions. A few years ago, three such mortar shells were recovered from the Damodar riverbed in the Dihipara area under Sonamukhi police station. Army personnel had reached the spot and neutralised the shells.
Repeated recoveries raise concern among locals The latest recovery has once again raised concerns among local residents, particularly fishermen and others whose livelihoods depend on the Damodar. Residents suspect that more such shells could still be buried beneath the riverbed and have demanded a thorough search of the area to prevent any possible accident.
