JP/8/GREAT

Mortar found near council compound

BEKASI: Two workers uncovered an artillery mortar buried in the banks of Kali Malang River on Thursday, across from the Bekasi Council buildings compound.

As of Friday, the police had yet to determine the age of the mortar or whether it was still active.

The 20 centimeter-long, 15-cm diameter munition was found buried under 60cm of dirt by Senen, 51, and Pardi, 36, who were working on a sewer.

No realizing what they had found, the two cleaned the mortar on the river bank. Their supervisor, Suwardi, later examined the object and alerted police.

Bekasi Police chief Sr. Comr. Bachtiar Hasanudin Tambunan said the mortar was under the examination of the National Police's Laboratory and Forensics Center. -- JP