MUMBAI: Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested two men in India’s Maharashtra for ‘illegally possessing’ over seven kilogrammes (15.4 pounds) of natural uranium, the highly radioactive substance, officials said.
According to details, the confiscated material is worth Indian Rupees 21.30 crores (around $2.9 million) and an investigation into the case is underway. The arrested men have been identified as Jigar Jayesh Pandya and Abu Tahir Afzal.
“We had received information that one person, Jigar Pandya, was going to illegally sell pieces of Uranium substance, a trap was laid and he was arrested,” the Maharashtra police said.
The police said a huge quantity of substance was recovered when Tahir was apprehended. A case was registered after Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai confirmed the seized material is highly radioactive.
“A report was received that the substance is natural uranium. It’s highly radioactive and dangerous to human life,” the police said. The arrested accused were being questioned to know the source of the seized material and where it would be sent.
According to India media, the two accused appeared before a local court on Wednesday which remanded them in the custody of the anti-terrorism squad till May 12. In 2016, police seized almost 9kg (19.8 pounds) of depleted uranium in the Thane area of Maharashtra.
