Kolkata, August 27: Acting on the tip-off, the Criminal Investigation Department has arrested two people from the capital of West Bengal and has recovered illegal possession of radioactive substances from them.
A senior officer while talking to the media persons said that they have recovered four pieces of ash-colored stones that weighed about 250.5 grams. The radioactive substance is suspected to be Californium, which has an estimated cost of Rs. 4,250 crore.
Californium is a radioactive chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. It should be noted that Californium is used in the manufacture of the nuclear bomb but is also used in running a nuclear plant.
The arrested duo has been identified as Sailan Karmakar and Asit Ghosh. The duo was arrested under the Atomic Energy Act and various sections of the IPC. In the primary investigation, the duo has revealed that they have brought the radioactive substances from Karnataka.
“The duo claimed that they bought the radioactive substances, which weighed over 250 gm in all, from someone in Karnataka, after chatting upon him on social media,” the officer explained.
Police believe that the material has been stolen from some laboratory. "We believe these materials have been stolen from some laboratory. We have initiated a probe into this matter," he added.
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