Radiation probe hits a dead end

The police have failed to fix responsibility for the negligent auction of “gamma irradiator” — the source of Cobalt-60 — by a Delhi University (DU) chemical laboratory, reports Vijaita Singh.

The police have failed to fix responsibility for the negligent auction of “gamma irradiator” — the source of Cobalt-60 — by a Delhi University (DU) chemical laboratory.

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Speaking of investigation into the incident, the Delhi police said its “hands are tied”.

The Cobalt-60 had made its way to a scrap shop in Mayapuri, leading to the death of a 35-year-old worker due to exposure to radiation. Seven others are critically ill and recuperating in city hospitals.

But more than a month after “radioactive substance” was discovered, police said they were still awaiting reports from DU and Atomic Energy regulatory Board (AERB).

“We do not know what step to initiate as we are still awaiting for reports from the AERB. They are the ones who will guide us in taking any further action,” said Sharad Agarwal, deputy commissioner of police (west).

DU had also ordered a separate inquiry into the green signal given by a 10-member panel to the auction without following requisite guidelines.

“We have questioned all the 10 members. All of them have feigned ignorance about the lethal radioactive substance,” said a senior police officer.

The panel comprised eight academic and two non-academic staff.

“We are still completing our probe and will submit the report soon,” an AERB official said.

Police had registered a case of death due to negligence and hurt at the Mayapuri police station after the death of Rajendra Yadav (35) on May 10.