TAWANG, 12 Jun: An unexploded live mortar shell of the 1962 era was defused by a bomb disposal team of the Indian Army in Tawang on Friday, Tawang SP Tasi Darang said.

The SP said that, after receiving information from Tawang Police Station OC Lham Thinley that one unexploded live mortar bomb had been found in the Lebrang area of Tawang township, he immediately contacted the commandant of the 190 Mountain Brigade.

The area was then cordoned off by the district police. However, the bomb couldn’t be defused due to darkness, he said.

Acknowledging the risk of a live bomb, the bomb disposal team moved it to the Methang area on Friday, where it was diffused in a controlled operation in the presence of 190 Mountain Brigade Brig Bhupal Singh, Col N Vasantharaj, and Maj Md Akhlas.

Mortar shells of the 1962 era are often found in many border areas of Arunachal Pradesh. They are highly explosive and can cause catastrophic impact to the surroundings if they explode, Darang said.

The SP urged the public to report to the police immediately if they find such objects.