Over 7 kg radioactive substance worth seized in India
Pakistan on Saturday expressed serious concerns over reports that 7kg uranium was seized from unauthorized persons in India.
“We have noted with serious concern the reports about seizure of more than 7 Kg natural uranium from unauthorised persons in India” said Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Zahid Hafeez Chaudhri.
“Security of nuclear materials should be the top priority for all countries. There is a need for a thorough investigation of the matter as to how such sizeable quantity of uranium could become available outside any state control and identify the gaps which made this possible” the Pakistan FO statement said.
Some experts suggested that the investigation into the discovered uranium from the group of people may lead to those involved in nuclear smuggling. The illicit trafficking and theft of nuclear material can lead to nuclear proliferation and to the creation of weapons usable material.
Indian police recently seized over seven kilograms of natural uranium worth Indian Rupees 21.30 crores (around $2.9 million) and arrested two men in the western Maharashtra state for “illegally possessing” the highly radioactive substance.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai confirmed the seized material is highly radioactive.
Uranium is used to power nuclear reactors that produce electricity and to produce isotopes used for medical, industrial, and nuclear explosives.
[…] has demanded a thorough investigation into the reports of illegal uranium trade in India after the second incident of theft of nuclear material in a […]