Eleven Indian nuclear scientists died mysteriously

As many as 11 nuclear scientists had unnatural deaths during 2009-13 in India, latest data provided by Department of Atomic Energy India revealed as reported the Economic Times newspaper.

The newspaper reported that 11 nuclear scientists had unnatural deaths during 2009-13 in India, latest data provided by Department of Atomic Energy shows. It further stated that eight scientists and engineers working in laboratories and research centres of the department died in a blast or by hanging or drowning themselves into the sea.

In its RTI response to Haryana-based Rahul Sehrawat, the department said that three scientists of Nuclear Power Corporation had also died under mysterious circumstances during the period of which two allegedly committed suicide and one had died in a road accident. The bodies of two scientists of C-group posted at BARC, Trombay were found hanging in their residences in 2010, while one scientist of same grade posted at Rawatbhata was found dead at his residence in 2012.

In one case of BARC, police claims that he committed suicide because of prolonged illness and closed the case, while the remaining cases are still under investigation. Two research fellows died in a mysterious fire in the chemistry lab of BARC, Trombay in 2010, the newspaper reported. A scientist of F-grade was found murdered at his residence in Mumbai. “It is suspected that he was strangulated but the murder accused remained untraced till date,” the newspaper said.

A D-grade scientist at RRCAT also allegedly committed suicide. Another scientist posted at Kalpakkam allegedly jumped into the sea to end his life in 2013, his case is still under probe, whereas a Mumbai based scientist committed suicide by hanging, with police citing personal reasons for the same. One scientist allegedly committed suicide by jumping into Kali river in Karwar, Karnataka with police again pointing at personal reasons.