A police team has recovered several unexploded rocket launcher shells from a firing range used by the military and para-military force personnel at Veeramalaipalayam near Vaiyampatti in the district recently.
The team launched a search operation in the firing range following information from public that the firing range could contain unexploded objects. The operation comes days after an explosion was reported in a metal scrap shop near Manapparai in the district where an object suspected to have been picked up from the Veeramalaipalayam firing range went off while it was being broken down using a hammer. A labourer working in the shop situated at Pothamettupati village died and three others including the shop owner sustained injuries.
The search was launched jointly by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad of the Tiruchi City Police and the Tiruchi Rural Police at the Veeramalaipalayam firing range on Saturday morning.
The operation which lasted over three hours led to the recovery of around 25 unexploded shells used in rocket launchers of various sizes, said police sources.
The shells were taken to a private explosive godown and kept in safe custody, said the sources. A report would be sent to the military authorities and the shells would be handed over to them.
The explosion in the metal scrap shop at Manapparai had taken place a few days after a para-military team from Bengaluru had carried out shooting practice at the firing range. Sources said permission from the district administration is obtained prior to carrying out firing practice at Veeramalaipalayam.
Meanwhile, District Collector K. Rajamani told reporters here on Sunday that a meeting would soon be convened with para-military personnel to stress upon the need for safe disposal of unexploded objects after completion of firing. Steps would be taken to provide relief through the government to the persons who sustained injuries in the explosion and to the family of the deceased, he added.
