For a nation that proudly presents itself as a responsible nuclear power, India has shown a disturbing inability to safeguard its most dangerous materials. Time and again, radioactive substances—especially uranium—have fallen into civilian and criminal hands, exposing the country’s fragile nuclear security framework.
And now, with a recent explosion at a depot in Punjab storing BrahMos missiles, India’s strategic weapons safety has come under direct and urgent scrutiny.
This isn’t fear-mongering. It’s a wake-up call. Let’s look at the facts.
A Pattern of Negligence
The list of uranium smuggling incidents in India is long, consistent, and alarming:
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1994 (Meghalaya): 2.5 kg of uranium was seized from smugglers.
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1998 (West Bengal): 100 kg of uranium was intercepted—reportedly linked to political figures.
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2000 (Kolkata): 60 kg of uranium surfaced on the black market.
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2008 (Bihar): 4 kg of uranium, en route to Nepal, was intercepted.
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2016 (Maharashtra): Two individuals caught with 9 kg of depleted uranium.
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2021 (Maharashtra): 7 kg of natural uranium, valued over ₹21 crore, recovered in a police sting.
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2021 (Jharkhand): 6.4 kg of uranium seized; multiple arrests revealed a smuggling ring.
These are not isolated lapses. They represent a systemic failure of security and oversight. Radioactive material—essential for nuclear energy and weapons—is being accessed and traded by civilians, criminals, and potentially, terror groups.
BrahMos Depot Blast: A Chilling Reminder
In May 2024, a blast at a military ammunition depot in Bathinda, Punjab, where BrahMos missiles were reportedly stored, shook not just the walls of the facility but also confidence in India’s strategic control. The BrahMos, a supersonic cruise missile co-developed with Russia, is among the world’s fastest and most lethal.
While authorities issued vague statements, local media reported a security alert issued to other installations in the region—a silent admission of how close the country came to a much larger disaster.
This incident was more than an accident. It was a demonstration of poor storage protocols, questionable maintenance, and a dangerous tendency to underplay risk.
The Global Double Standard
If these incidents had occurred in any other part of the world—especially a rival nuclear state—the international community would have reacted with fury. There would be headlines, emergency sessions, calls for sanctions, and demands for inspections. Yet, when it comes to India, the silence is deafening.
Why is the world turning a blind eye?
India is not immune to internal threats. Insurgencies, political unrest, and corruption pose real risks to the custody of strategic assets. If uranium can make it into local markets, what’s stopping it from making its way to extremists?
A Call for Accountability
India’s nuclear safety record is now a matter of global concern. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and allied powers must act. Words of trust and diplomatic courtesies are not enough anymore. Action is needed.
India must:
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Implement real-time tracking and biometric inventory of all nuclear material.
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Open its nuclear sites to international nuclear safety audits.
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Improve the training and vetting of personnel handling radioactive material.
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Modernize and secure all missile and strategic weapon depots.
Conclusion
India's growing strategic power comes with an even greater responsibility. Repeated uranium smuggling incidents and depot mishaps do not reflect the image of a secure nuclear power. Instead, they signal negligence that could end in catastrophe—not only for India but for the entire region and beyond.
The time to act is now, before a smuggled vial of uranium becomes a dirty bomb—or a depot explosion becomes a national tragedy.
