Remnant mortar shells from WWII found in Rakhine

Examples of various mortar shells. Photo: WikiCommons / Curiosandrelics
Examples of various mortar shells. Photo: WikiCommons / Curiosandrelics

Ten unexploded mortar shells were discovered in a village located in Rakhine State’s Kyauktaw Township yesterday afternoon, according to Eleven. A father and son had accidentally stumbled upon the shells while they were farming and hit something hard under the dirt.

Each shell is 12 inches long, with a three-inch diameter and nine-inch circumference.

“There’s some gunpowder still left, but they [the shells] are no longer dangerous. However, we’ve handed them over to the authorities since it’s the best course of action,” the head of the village confirmed to Eleven.

Authorities believe that they are remnants from when Japan occupied Myanmar during World War II. After taking over the country from the British, the Japanese granted Rakhine (Arakan) autonomy. The state even established their own army, the Arakan Defense Force, and eventually joined the Allies and turned against the Japanese.

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