Dehradun Police Arrest Five for Suspected Radioactive Device Possession

Five individuals were detained on Friday for their alleged involvement in the illegal trade of a suspected radioactive device, according to police. They were apprehended from various locations: two from Dehradun's Rajpur area, two from Madhya Pradesh, and one from Delhi.

Radioactive Device Seized

A radiography camera was discovered in their possession, and a case was registered under relevant sections of the law for possessing and trading a substance that endangers life. One suspect revealed to the police that he had acquired the device 10 months ago from a resident of Saharanpur and had come to Dehradun to facilitate its sale.

The police have sealed a room in a flat at the Brook and Woods Society on Rajpur Road. The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) was called in to investigate further. An SDRF team confirmed the presence of a radioactive substance in the flat.

Emergency Response

Given the sensitivity of the situation, an emergency team from the atomic power station in Narora, Uttar Pradesh, arrived in Dehradun. They tested the device for approximately four to five hours. Dehradun Senior Superintendent of Police Ajay Singh stated that the device would be sent to BARC for further investigation.

Devices like the one found are manufactured by BARC in Mumbai. They are typically used in medicine and for preventing leaks in large pipelines. The police said that such devices are not meant for public possession and pose significant risks if mishandled.

The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are working to determine how the device ended up in the hands of these individuals. The involvement of multiple states indicates a broader network that might be involved in such illegal activities.

This incident highlights the need for stringent measures to prevent unauthorised access to radioactive materials. Ensuring proper regulation and monitoring can help avert potential threats to public safety.