Pekanbaru pupils discover mortar

PEKANBARU, Riau: Two elementary school students on Friday evening discovered a 40-centimeter long mortar in a garbage dump near Jl. Senapelan, Pekanbaru.

Ari Suprayitno, 11, and Daliman, 12, who are also scavengers, thought earlier that the metal object, which was wrapped in a plastic bag, was harmless.

But, when they were about to sell it to buyer of second hand goods, a local resident saw the mortar and reported it to police.

Senapelan police chief Adj. Comr. Sukito confirmed that the metal object was a mortar. Police are investigating whether the mortar is still active. -- JP