An old mortar shell was discovered in a public park near the Sher-i-Kashmir Bridge on the outskirts of Poonch in Jammu and Kashmir.The incident occurred when a local youth, who was out for a morning walk, noticed the suspicious object and immediately informed the police authorities.Following the alert, police and Army personnel quickly reached the location and secured the area by cordoning it off to ensure public safety.Given the potential risk associated with the unexploded ordnance, a bomb disposal squad was called to the site.The specialized team examined the shell and carried out a controlled operation to neutralise it safely.Officials confirmed that the mortar shell was successfully defused without causing any harm to civilians or damage to surrounding property.The prompt response by security forces and coordination between the police, Army, and bomb disposal unit helped prevent any possible accident.Authorities did not report any injuries or further threats following the operation.

The incident highlights the continued risk posed by leftover explosive devices in certain regions and the importance of vigilance by civilians, along with swift action by security agencies.An investigation or assessment into the origin and age of the shell may be undertaken to understand how it ended up in a public area.For now, normalcy has been restored in the locality after the safe disposal operation.