Lok Sabha Question No. 544 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-12-02
Subject: Deaths of Nuclear Scientists
Ministry: ATOMIC ENERGY
Asked by: DUSHYANT CHAUTALA, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT, RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE, SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.544

TO BE ANSWERED ON 02.12.2015

## DEATHS OF NUCLEAR SCIENTISTS

544.   SHRI DUSHYANT CHAUTALA: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT: SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE: DR. SHRIKANT EKNATH SHINDE:

Will the PRIME MINISTER be pleased to state:

- (a) whether 11 nuclear scientists died unnaturally under mysterious conditions between the years 2009-13 in the country;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether the Government has conducted special inquiry to bring out the mysterious of deaths of scientists;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) the kind of action taken by the Government to provide adequate protection to the nuclear scientists working in the Government organisations/institutions?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PERSONNEL, PUBLIC GRIEVANCES & PENSIONS AND PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (Dr. JITENDRA SINGH) :

- (a) There were 11 unnatural deaths comprising 9 scientists and 2 research fellows of  the  Department  of  Atomic  Energy  during  the  period.  All  these  cases  of unnatural deaths were investigated by the Police and no case was categorised as 'mysterious'.
- (b) The details are furnished in Annexure I.
- (c) No,  but  a  detailed  analysis  of  death  of  scientists  and  research  fellows  was done and nothing unusual was unearthed.
- (d) Not required.
- (e) Security  of  scientists/  engineers  of  DAE  at  work  place  and  in  departmental residential colonies  are being  audited  regularly  by  agency  of  Ministry  of Home Affairs  and  as  per  their  suggestions arrangements are in place.
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## ANNEXURE I

## DETAILS OF UNNATURAL DEATHS OF THE  SCIENTISTS OF THE DEPARTMENT

## between 01.01.2009 to 31.12.2013.

|   S.No. | Date       | Designation                 | Type of unnatural death                                                   | Name of investigating agency                  | Reason for unnatural death                          |
|---------|------------|-----------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------|
|       1 | 29.12.2009 | Sr. Research Fellow, BARC   | Died due to fire accident in                                              | Police Station, Trombay, Mumbai.              | Accidental fire in Chemistry Lab                    |
|       2 | 29.12.2009 | Jr. Research Fellow, BARC   | Chemistry lab, BARC.                                                      | Police Station, Trombay, Mumbai.              | Accidental fire in Chemistry Lab                    |
|       3 | 09.04.2009 | Scientific officer/D        | Road accident at Nagpur                                                   | Korade Police Station, Nagpur, Maharashtra    | Accidental Death                                    |
|       4 | 13.06.2009 | Scientific officer/G        | Suicide by drowning in kali river                                         | Mallapur Police Station, N. Karwar, Karnataka | Suicide due to personal reason                      |
|       5 | 22.02.2010 | Scientific Officer/F        | Found dead at residence                                                   | Gamdevi Police Station, Mumbai                | Murder by strangulation. Accused remained untraced. |
|       6 | 03.03.2010 | Scientific Officer/C        | Suicide by hanging at residence                                           | Trombay Police Station, Mumbai                | Suicide by hanging at residence.                    |
|       7 | 10.04.2010 | Scientific Officer/D, RRCAT | Suicide by hanging                                                        | Rajendra Nagar police Station, Indore         | Suicide by hanging.                                 |
|       8 | 01.11.2010 | Scientific Officer/C        | Suicide by hanging                                                        | Turbhe Police Station, Navi Mumbai            | Suicide due to prolonged illness.                   |
|       9 | 20.10.2012 | Scientific Officer/C, HWP   | Suicide by hanging at residence                                           | Rawatbhata Police Station, Rajasthan.         | Under Investigation.                                |
|      10 | 14.03.2013 | Scientific Officer/D        | Suicide by hanging at residence                                           | Govandi Police Station, Mumbai.               | Suicide due to personal reasons.                    |
|      11 | 04.10.2013 | Scientific Officer/E        | Suicide by jumping into sea at sea water intake jetty area, DAE Kalpakkam | Pudupattinam Police Station Kalpakkam.        | Suicide by jumping into sea.                        |

Note :  Out of above 11 cases, 2 cases are due to industrial fire accident, 1 case of road accident ,7 cases of suicide  & 1 case of murder.

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