A rusty old device, suspected to be a hand grenade, was recovered in front of a Fire Station close to Maharajganj Bazaar — the largest wholesale market of Agartala — on Friday.
The suspected grenade was first spotted by Amal Chakraborty, a fireman of Maharajganj Fire Station, who claimed it was covered in mud and heavily rusted.
“I don’t know whether it was live. After seeing it, I informed the police and others of the Fire Station,” Chakraborty told reporters.
The police personnel from East Agartala station, Special Branch, bomb squad, and forensic experts rushed to the spot. After examination, the area was declared secure and safe for the movement of people.
Additional SP of Tripura Police Dhruba Nath said that according to their preliminary inspection, the grenade is likely to be 30-40 years old, and its spring mechanism was absent.
“A forensic examination is being conducted to determine if the object is still active. The grenade was taken away safely for further examination. Currently, there is no threat to the safety of the people,” said the officer.