More than 40 rusted hand grenades were discovered Monday at a construction site in Polo Colony, Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh, prompting immediate security measures by local authorities.
The cache of old explosives was unearthed by local resident Tarek Naje while excavating his plot of land to build a house. According to Naje, the discovery occurred in two phases – the first grenade was found around 2 PM, with the remaining explosives discovered approximately two hours later.
“While digging to construct my house, I found the first grenade at around 2 PM, and rest at around 4 PM. I had no idea that grenades were in the ground,” Naje told reporters at the scene.
Upper Subansiri Superintendent of Police Mridul Yadav confirmed that security personnel have cordoned off the area as a precautionary measure. “A bomb disposal team is on its way,” Yadav stated, adding that the grenades appear to be very old, likely dating back to when Assam Rifles personnel were stationed in the area.
According to local sources, the Assam Rifles, one of India’s oldest paramilitary forces, used the area as a firing range in the late 1980s and early 1990s. The preliminary assessment suggests the grenades were abandoned when the force relocated from the site, though authorities emphasize that an investigation is ongoing to confirm this theory.
Local administration officials have advised residents in the vicinity to remain vigilant and report any additional suspicious objects that might be discovered during construction or agricultural activities in the area.
