Agartala, July 19: In various parts of Tripura, digging into the soil often unearths memories of the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. On Wednesday, several artillery shells were discovered during an excavation in Bamutia, a border village in West Tripura district.
Dulal Nam, a farmer from Rangutia village in Bamutia, was digging a pit in his yard to start a fishery. While digging, his shovel struck a heavy iron object. Suspecting something unusual, the workers expanded the pit and unearthed several artillery shells one after another.
After discovering three or four shells in a row, the workers became alarmed. The news quickly spread throughout the village, drawing a crowd. Concerned that the shells might be live and pose a danger, they promptly informed the Bamutia police outpost.
The police reported that 27 artillery shells were recovered, all of which are believed to be more than 50 years old. They reassured the villagers that none of the shells are live.
According to the villagers, Bamutia, being near the Bangladesh border, was once a camp for freedom fighters. The freedom fighters might have stored ammunition here, or the Pakistani army could have targeted the village with artillery shells. Regardless of whether the shells belonged to the freedom fighters or were fired by the Pakistani military, everyone is certain that these artifacts are linked to the memories of the Bangladesh Liberation War.
