There have been serious violations of protocol at the Kaiga Atomic Power Station in handing radioactive material. The guidelines issued by the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd. (NPCIL) to its employees on handling radioactive material appear to have not been followed by some employees at the Kaiga station, Gopal B. Hosur, Inspector-General of Police (Western Range) told the press here on Thursday.
He said about 50 ml of tritium had been mixed with drinking water in a cooler at the station.
NPCIL had conducted its own inquiry and submitted a detailed report to the police. Police would probe whether this was the first such incident or such things had occurred earlier. They had suggested to the NPCIL authorities to strengthen security and fix more closed-circuit TV cameras at the station.
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Mr. Hosur said the investigation was complex as it involved national security. So it was not proper to jump to conclusions, and the police had to work patiently. The CISF and the Intelligence Bureau would help in the investigation.
Police had already questioned some people and were trying to gather more information. A preliminary inquiry had shown that it was a sabotage attempt. Some were interrogated, but none had been arrested.