Gopalganj: In a significant development, the Gopalganj police have registered an FIR naming four individuals as accused in connection with the recovery of a suspected radioactive substance, Californium. The authorities are now preparing to dispatch a police team to Gujarat to apprehend the fourth accused, whose location is currently being verified by the technical branch.
A special team from the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) and the Department of Atomic Energy has also been informed to handle the substance and conduct further investigations. On Saturday night, a five-member team from the Department of Atomic Energy, Delhi, arrived at the Gopalganj Guest House and proceeded to the Kuchaykot police station, accompanied by Sadar SDO Pranjal, for the investigation.
The arrest occurred at the Balthari checkpost on NH 27, where a joint operation involving the Kuchaykot police, Special Task Force (STF), and District Intelligence Unit (DIU) led to the apprehension of three youths on a motorcycle. They were found in possession of 50 grams of suspected Californium, a highly valuable and potentially dangerous radioactive material.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Chhotelal Prasad from Parsauni Buzurg village in Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh; Chandan Gupta from Ward No. 22, Thawe Road Kaushalya Chowk in Gopalganj district; and Chandan Ram from Kushhar Mathiya village in the Mohammadpur police station area.
During interrogation, it was revealed that the suspected Californium had ties to Gujarat. Chhotelal Prasad disclosed that the radioactive material was handed to him by one Khajanchi Prasad, an electrician from Rasauni Buzurg Siyaraha in Kushinagar district, Uttar Pradesh, who works in Gujarat. The trio was en route to Siwan to sell the substance when they were intercepted by the police at the Balthari checkpost.
The Gopalganj police are now coordinating with law enforcement agencies in Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat to investigate further and apprehend the fourth accused, Khajanchi Prasad.
It has also been revealed that the arrested individuals have varied backgrounds. Chhotelal Prasad works as a mason, Chandan Gupta’s father owns a restaurant near Kaushalya Chowk, and Chandan Gupta himself has a prior case of liquor smuggling. Meanwhile, Chandan Ram’s family is involved in farming. The police are continuing their investigation to uncover more details surrounding this case.
