RAWALPINDI: A mortar shell was safely removed by the police and the bomb disposal squad (BDS) from a garbage heap near a public park in Lalkurti, within the jurisdiction of the Civil Lines police station, police said.

Prior to removing the shell, law enforcement agencies closed the park off to the public while the BDS examined the 120mm shell, which appeared to be an old one.

According to a police official, a local called the police after spotting the mortal shell in the garbage heap in Lalkurti. A heavy contingent of police then arrived at the scene, and the BDS was also called in, in order to remove the shell.

The Civil Lines Circle deputy superintendent of police (DSP) Farhan Aslam confirmed that a defused mortar shell was found in the Lalkurti area.

He said the shell was dumped in the garbage near a nullah, and the army and the police had been informed and had removed it from the area.

He added that an investigation to determine where the mortar shell came from had begun.

He speculated that the shell had likely come from scrap dumped in the area.

Separately, unknown individuals robbed the home of an armed forces officer in Afshan Colony. The suspects used a cuttertocutthroughthelocks onthe door.

According to the police, Capt Sameena Kausar, who served in the Armed Forces Nursing Services, filed a complaint with the Race Course police in which she said that her home was robbed while she and her family were in Lahore for Eid.

She said the robbers cut the house locks, and stole Rs50,000 and $600 in cash, a laptop, an army uniform and other ranks and badges.

She asked the police to register a case against the robbers and recover the stolen items. The police have lodged an FIR and begun an investigation.