A high-security alert was sounded in Nagpur on Wednesday after an anonymous letter was sent to the city’s Police Commissioner alleging that radioactive material had been dispersed at key Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) locations and on public transport.
The letter, purportedly sent by an organisation calling itself “DSS”, claimed that Caesium-137 — a highly dangerous radioactive isotope — had been planted at the RSS headquarters in Mahal, the Dr Hedgewar Smriti Mandir in Reshimbagh, the BJP office in Ganeshpeth, as well as on Metro trains and city buses operating near these locations.
Written in English, the letter reached the office of Police Commissioner Dr Ravindrakumar Singal by post on April 27 and contained inflammatory language against the RSS, police sources said. The claims triggered an extensive security response involving the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and atomic energy experts.
Police sources explained that Caesium-137 is a radioactive isotope produced during nuclear fission in reactors and nuclear weapons, and does not occur naturally. With a half-life of over 30 years, it emits beta particles and strong gamma radiation, making it extremely hazardous.
According to investigators, the letter claimed that the radioactive substance was sourced from a cancer hospital. It further warned, “The entire city of Nagpur is now under radiation threat,” and challenged authorities to verify the claim through experts from the Tarapur Atomic Power Station.
The letter also referred to a recent incident in which detonators and gelatin sticks were recovered from an open plot behind the Dosar Bhavan Metro Station. The sender allegedly claimed responsibility for the explosives, stating: “That was just a warning, the real game has started now.”
Following receipt of the letter, multiple teams conducted thorough sweeps of the RSS headquarters, Metro stations, buses, and other locations named. Preliminary inspections have not detected any radioactive traces so far, leading authorities to suspect the threat may be a hoax or an act of mischief, though officials said all possibilities remain open.
An FIR has been registered at the Sadar Police Station based on a complaint filed by the ATS. Security at the RSS headquarters continues under a 24-hour, multi-layered cover involving around 150 CISF personnel along with the Nagpur Police, sources said.
While investigators believe the letter may have been intended to create panic, security around Metro infrastructure and RSS premises has been intensified. Police are continuing efforts to trace the sender and ascertain the identity and motives of the so-called “DSS” organisation.
