Ferozepur, May 13 -- Panic gripped Muthianwali village in Fazilka on Sunday night after a 51mm mortar shell was recovered, officials said, adding that police clarified there was "no immediate threat".

According to Fazilka senior superintendent of police (SSP) Varinder Singh Brar, the mortar shell appeared to be "old and rusted".

"The shell seems to have been lying there for a long time. It does not appear to be connected to a present-day security issue," the SSP said.

Brar said preliminary inspections suggest the shell was not live and likely left behind from previous military activity or training exercises in the area, which is 7 km from the India-Pakistan border and 11 km from Fazilka city.

Officials say the recovery is not uncommon...