Panic gripped the Chatiwind area on the Tarn Taran road in Amritsar after a bag containing hand grenades, mortar shells, rocket launchers and live cartridges was found from near a canal on Monday.
Police were alerted after a ragpicker, Shama Chakraborty, of Malda district of West Bengal opened the bag containing ammunition that he had found at the Bhagatanwala garbage dump.
Police commissioner Amar Singh Chahal and assistant commissioner of police (south) Prabhjot Singh Virk rushed to the spot. The area was cordoned off and the army’s bomb disposal squad was called.
Army’s two-member team reached the spot at 4.15pm and returned after examining the ammunition. Police were waiting for the bomb disposal squad till the filing of this report. Chahal said the material found was used and very old.
Police have taken the ragpicker into custody and investigations are on.