Don’t rush to media on seizure of radioactive material: MHA to states

In its caller absorption to each Chief Secretaries, DGPs and Police Commissioners, the MHA said that the concerns person been raised regarding instances wherever immoderate authorities constabulary forces issued statements to the media regarding seizure of “radioactive” materials without due confirmation done laboratory tests.

Without mentioning details of immoderate peculiar incident, the MHA said specified incidents person been recovered to beryllium hoaxes and attempts by miscreants to foist fake materials arsenic radioactive substances. “Such unsubstantiated and incorrectly reports thin to malign India’s representation internationally connected its information and information protocols successful handling of nuclear/radiological substances, and springiness scope to allegations of beingness of a imaginable atomic achromatic marketplace wrong India for delicate dual usage materials,” the MHA is learnt to person said successful its communication.

It asked each constabulary successful each states and UTs to archetypal nonstop the seizure to the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB)/DAE. “Once it is confirmed, past lone springiness media statements… All the elder constabulary officials should beryllium sensitised to consult AERB/DAE and person to beryllium much cautious portion giving property releases to the media houses connected seizures connected radioactive materials,” an authoritative said.

In its communication, the MHA besides referred to the guidelines connected media argumentation of police, which was issued connected April 1, 2010. “Police officers should confine their briefings to the indispensable facts and not unreserved to the property with ‘half-baked, speculative oregon unconfirmed’ accusation astir ongoing investigation…” it said.

In August, Bihar Police arrested 3 persons from Gopalganj territory and recovered 50 gm of a radioactive substance worthy crores from their possession. In July, Uttarakhand constabulary had arrested 5 persons successful Dehradun for possessing boxes containing suspected radioactive material.