ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday demanded a probe into the instances of “theft and illicit sale” of nuclear materials in neighboring India following the arrest of a gang found in illegal possession of a dangerous radioactive substance worth $100 million.
An Indian media report said on Friday the police had arrested three smugglers in the western Gopalganj district of Bihar with a rare Californium stone which is highly radioactive and fetches a high price in the international market.
Californium is a chemical element with the symbol Cf and atomic number 98. It is a radioactive and metallic element with a silvery appearance.
India has witnessed similar incidents in the past, where at least three instances were reported in May, June and August of 2021 when the authorities seized uranium and other radioactive material from gangs whose members were arrested in Maharashtra, Jharkhand and Kolkata.
“Pakistan is gravely concerned at the reports of recurring incidents of theft and illicit sale of nuclear and other radioactive materials in India,” foreign office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement in response to a media query.
“Pakistan reiterates its call for a thorough investigation of these incidents and for adequate measures to prevent their recurrence,” she continued. “In the latest incident, a gang of individuals were found in illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance Californium, worth $100 million in quantity.”
While referring to the 2021 incidents, she highlighted that Indian authorities arrested five persons with a radioactive device last month that was reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Center.
Baloch said the recurring incidents posed a question about the measures taken by New Delhi to ensure the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials, adding these incidents suggested the “existence of a black market for sensitive and dual-use materials inside India.”
The foreign office spokesperson noted the international community sought an “earnest disclosure” from the Indian authorities over how a sealed radioactive source material like Californium was found in the possession of the arrested individuals.
She noted it was dangerous for such sensitive material to routinely fall into the wrong hands in India.
