Radioactive material dumped in creek

Radioactive material dumped in creek: "
By: Vinod Kumar Menon
November 1, 2005
Ajay Jaju of Isotope Teknica Limited, stole Pigtail
People have been known to do strange things for revenge but this is bizarre.
Upset that one of his contracts with Das Offshore Engineering was cancelled, Ajay Jaju stole Pigtail, a radioactive material, from a radiography camera in their workshop, and threw it into the Vashi creek.
The officials of the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) have been searching for this material for the past two months without any luck. However, AERB officials have assured that there is no danger to the public.
The incident
In the third week of August, a representative of Das Offshore Engineering, MIDC, Nerul, informed the Nerul police and the AERB that Pigtail was missing from a radiography camera in their workshop.
Pigtail
The company was into welding of iron pipelines and they used radiographic films for checking the pipe joints. The radioactive source could be dangerous to human beings if they come close to it.
Underwater search
AERB Chairman S K Sharma confirmed the incident and added that underwater survey instruments were used after the accused revealed that he threw the radioactive source into the creek.
A radioactive material, from a radiography camera. Pigtail is usually used to detect leakages in pipe joints but can be dangerous to human beings if they come close to it
“The search team could not locate it, as it might have drifted away on the seabed. However, with over 2 m of water and silt above it, there is no radiation hazard. The fishermen colony around the creek was checked for radiation, but nothing was found,” he said.
“Personal vendetta has been cited as the reason behind the theft, which is the first of its kind brought to the notice of AERB,” said Sharma.
Special police team
The seriousness of the case led the Navi Mumbai Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble to set up a special police team to detect the case. The police conducted the probe with the assistance of experts from AERB.
Revenge
Preliminary inquiries revealed that Das Offshore Engineering had engaged Isotope Teknica Limited, New Panvel, for the radiography work.
The director of Isotope, Ajay Champalal Jaju, was upset as Das Offshore had cancelled his other contract for ultrasonic testing and also because the company owed him a few lakhs and so decided to take revenge in this bizarre fashion.
‘Safe crime’
Jaju confessed that he had indeed committed the crime but added that, being a Radiological Safety Officer, he was aware of the safety precautions and therefore took adequate measure to prevent radiation exposure of the public.
How he threw it away
Investigations by AERB revealed that Jaju used an umbrella to hide the radioactive source. He also maintained a safe distance from the radioactive source during the time he had it with him.
At Nerul railway station, he kept the umbrella in an isolated place and on the train, he kept the source on the luggage rack. As soon as the train approached the creek, he threw it into the creek.
Not so smart
Jaju has since tested positive for presence of radiation. According to Sharma, Jaju might have contracted a dose of 20 to 25 rem of radiation."