Mumbai: A major tragedy was averted after Mumbai Police arrested a man allegedly distributing capsules containing zinc phosphide during a Muharram procession in the city with the intent to cause mass harm.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone-I) Jayant Meena said officers on patrol in the Byculla Police Station area noticed the suspect behaving suspiciously while handing out capsules. The capsules were seized, and police launched an investigation.
According to Meena, a man identified as Salman fell ill with vomiting and stomach pain after consuming one of the capsules at around 4 am. The incident helped police trace and arrest the suspect.
During questioning, the accused allegedly confessed that he planned to distribute the capsules by passing them off as painkillers. Police said he had procured 50 kg of zinc phosphide, a rodenticide, and 30,000 empty capsules, which he had been filling over the past 15 days while staying in Mumbai.
Police have so far seized 14,900 capsules, while efforts are underway to recover the remaining capsules and chemicals.
Meena said the accused runs a paint business, sourced the chemicals through his trade and purchased the empty capsules online. Police are also investigating his foreign travel links and possible associates in Mumbai. He added that the alertness of Mumbai Police prevented a possible mass casualty incident.
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