A significant discovery of 27 mortar shells from the 1971 Indo-Pak war period has stirred the West Tripura district. The shells were unearthed on Thursday during the excavation of a fish pond at Dulal Nama’s property in the northeastern district’s Rangutia. Labourers initially discovered 12 shells, with an additional 15 recovered upon further digging, as reported by news agency PTI.
The aged and damaged shells, about 50 years old, created immediate concern in the locality. Police confirmed the shells were indeed mortars, though initial confusion arose about whether they were cannons or mortars. Villagers speculated that the Mukti Bahini, Bangladesh’s freedom fighters during the 1971 war, might have buried these shells and inadvertently left them behind.
Assistant Inspector General Ananta Das remarked on the difficulty of identifying the shells’ exact origins due to severe label destruction. He emphasized that arms experts would be needed to conclusively determine their history.
The Mukti Bahini, pivotal in Bangladesh’s liberation, reportedly used Tripura’s border as a strategic base against the Pakistani army. Senior residents recounted that the Mukti Bahini frequently trained in the Bamuthia area during the war. They believe the buried mortar shells were left behind as the conflict ended and priorities shifted.
The officer-in-charge of the Bamuthia outpost, Anthony Jamatia, specified that the 27 shells were fused together and estimated to have been buried for about 53 years. No information was found regarding the country of origin or the manufacturer of the shells.
This unexpected discovery in a quiet Tripura locale has rekindled memories of the 1971 war, highlighting the historical significance of the region and its connection to the pivotal moments of Bangladesh’s liberation struggle.
Original Story https://news.abplive.com/states/northeast/27-mortars-shells-from-1971-indo-pak-war-era-found-in-west-tripura-1703843
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