A suspected World War II-era mortar shell found during routine desilting of an open drain in Jorhat’s Rajamoidam locality triggered a police cordon and bomb-squad operation on Tuesday, after sanitation workers spotted the corroded metal object in sludge along Cemetery Road.
The object was discovered during cleaning work connected to the Tokolai drain network. The civic crew stopped operations and alerted authorities after noticing a heavy, military-style metal cylinder. Police reached the site, established a safety perimeter and restricted access to the area around the drain.
The response was led by additional superintendent of police (Crime) Abhishek Kumar Yadav. He said the anti-bomb squad from the Lachit Barphukan Police Academy in Dergaon had been called to determine the nature of the object.
The suspected shell was safely removed and taken to an undisclosed location for detailed explosive testing and investigation, Yadav said. Authorities have not yet established whether the object is live or whether it contains an active explosive charge.
Investigators are examining whether the object could be a vintage artillery projectile, mortar shell or rocket-propelled grenade ammunition. Its exact origin, firing mechanism and age will be determined through controlled diagnostic tests. Officials suspect it may date from the World War II period, but the assessment has not been confirmed.
Security officials said seasonal river currents could have carried old ammunition downstream with silt and debris before it entered the urban drainage network. Authorities have not ruled out other possible sources, and the investigation is continuing.
The incident also brought attention to the risks that can emerge during routine civic maintenance. Drain desilting involves workers handling accumulated sludge, rubble and waste, where potentially dangerous objects may not be visible until excavation is under way. In this case, the sanitation team stopped work and notified authorities rather than attempting to move or open the object.
Police issued a public advisory asking residents to remain vigilant during excavation and drainage work. The department said anyone who finds suspected ammunition or another suspicious metallic object should move away immediately and contact the nearest police post.
Testing of the recovered object and the subsequent investigation will determine whether it was historic ammunition, whether it retained any explosive capability and how it reached the Jorhat drainage system.
