As many as 24 unused shells of marine signal flares were found on Shivrajpur beach near coastal town of Dwarka in Devbhoomi-Dwarka district of Gujarat, Police today said.
During the routine patrolling, a coastal security jawan found some of these shells, resembling crude bombs, scattered on the beach which is about 10 km away from Dwarka, police said.
"He (jawan) found at least 24 such articles scattered all over the beach. Since these articles appeared like crude bombs, many senior police officials rushed to the spot. We also informed the bomb disposal squad, the coast guard and forensic experts," Dwarka police inspector V G Rathod said, adding the shells looked like light bulb and were wrapped in brown paper.
While inspecting the articles, officials found some instructions pasted on them in a foreign language, which appeared to be Chinese.
"To find out what is written, police called a marine safety expert who also knew other languages. He told us that the instructions are in the Korean language. The expert revealed these articles are actually shells of marine signal flares, which are used by vessels to give distress signal to others in the case of emergency," said Rathod.
He said though these shells are expired "they are still dangerous, as they are not used."
On the question of how the shells reached the shore, Rathod said they might have been dumped into sea by vessel.
"Shivrajpur is situated near a busy sea route. Experts told us that it might have been thrown away into sea by vessel. Later, due to tidal waves, they washed ashore here. They are disposed of," he added.
