Thane crime branch destroys 44 of 59 live shells near Mumbai

Mumbai city news: After discovering the shells in October 2015, the officers started destroying the shells from Wednesday after getting an approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Thane crime branch on Thursday destroyed 33 of the 59 live shells, which they discovered from Shildaighar area in Thane in 2015.

On Wednesday, they destroyed 11 shells. (HT)

After discovering the shells in October 2015, the officers started destroying the shells from Wednesday after getting an approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

On Wednesday, they destroyed 11 shells.

The 33 live shells were divided into three sets of 11 each, put in 3 pits that were 4ft deep and blasted away at 7.45am 8.45am and 9.45am.

“The shells are 50-years-old and it known as UXO (unexploded ordnance). On Wednesday, we destroyed 11 of them as it was the first attempt and so we had taken maximum care. Along with NSG commandos, Thane bomb squad, fire fighters, and local police carried out the operation, while an ambulance was kept at stand by”, said an officer from the Thane crime branch.

A diameter of 1km around the blast site was cordoned off and villagers were asked to move away to a safe distance on temporary basis. “The shells were found abandoned in 2015 at Shildaighar – Thane and it was a week back when the police got an order from the Ministry of home affairs to destroy the shells”, added the officer.