Missile part found in Punjab's border village; sparks panic, villagers say 'explosion heard'

Amid tensions between India and Pakistan after the Indian forces carried out precision attacks on the terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, panic gripped Jethuwal village in Kathunanagal area on the Amritsar-Batala road here in the wee hours of Thursday after parts of a missile were found lying in the fields.

The missile parts were found scattered at different places, including houses, in the village.

However, no loss to life and property were reported. According to villagers, the parts of the missile fell at around 1.30 am.

Incidentally, at the same time, mysterious explosions sounds were heard in the Amritsar city area, leading to panic among the residents.

A 5-feet cylindrical missile was found lying in the agricultural fileds of Baldev Singh and Makhan Singh.

The police officials said that they could not ascertain whether it was part of an Indian or a Pakistani missile.

"There was neither any explosion nor any impact on the ground, "said Amritsar (rural) SSP Maninder Singh. People did not hear any sound of explosion in the village, he said.

"The people found it lying in the agricultural fields and informed the police about it. Police and forensic teams have been examining it," he said. He said Army authorities had also been informed and that they would also be examining it.

Around 1.30 am, three explosions were heard in the city area. The incident led to panic and immediately after, the district administration released the statement not to panic while adding that they had resumed the blackout exercise.

Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Police Commissioner, said though the noise of explosions was heard, nothing happened in the city area.