India, May 17 -- Panic gripped the Focal Point area of Punjab's border town of Batala on Saturday morning when an object resembling a hand-grenade was found near a liquor shop. It later turned out to be a publicity stunt for which the police booked a local resident.

Senior superintendent of police Suhail Qasim Mir said, "Police acted promptly after a video of the suspected grenade near the liquor shop was shared on social media. Bomb disposal experts were requisitioned and the area was cordoned off. Later, a man named, Manu Agwan, claimed responsibility for placing the object and admitted it was a publicity stunt. A case has been registered against him."

Gurdaspur is among the border districts on high alert since Operation Sindoor.

Mor...