ISLAMABAD: Pakistan expressed concern over lax arrangements for the security of nuclear and other radioactive materials in India after a third instance of seizure of stolen radioactive elements was reported in four months.
Last Thursday, the Criminal Investigation Department of the eastern Indian state of West Bengal seized Californium, an extremely expensive radioactive metal, weighing 250.5 grams and worth about $581 million from two people in the Kolkata airport area, The Economic Times reported.
Stolen or lost radioactive material has on several occasions been reported in India, most recently in May and June when over 7 kilograms and more than 6 kilograms of uranium were recovered from unauthorised people in separate incidents.
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in the coastal city of Mumbai pointed out the apprehended natural uranium was “highly radioactive and dangerous to human life”.
The string of incidents of theft of nuclear and radioactive metals has raised fears in Pakistan that it could be used as a weapon if acquired by the Hindu extremists.
“We have noted with serious concern yet another report of theft and illicit sale of radioactive material in India,” the Foreign Office said.
“It is a matter of grave concern for the international community that an extremely rare Sealed Radioactive Source material like Californium could be stolen.”
The agency observed that “as in the previous cases, the arrested individuals apparently got hold of the radioactive material by purchasing it” from inside the country.
The statement further said repeated incidents not only point to the possible existence of a nuclear black market but also indicates the lax arrangements in India to secure imported SRS material.
