I wonder if there was any update to this in the last 4 years.
But the most pressing issue isn't who might be behind the murders, but that the Indian government's apathy is potentially putting their high-value staff at even greater risk. Currently, these scientists, who are crucial to the development of India's nuclear programes, whether for energy or security, have "absolutely no protection at all. Nothing, zero," Madhav told me. "Which is amazing for people who are in a such a sensitive program."
That strikes me as odd, the possibility not mentioned in the article is that the Indian government is responsible. The behaviors of the Indian government in the article do sound suspicious. I understand not wanting to signal to your scientists the level of danger they're in but, given how valuable an asset these people are to the country, that India would've tried to protect them if it was aware at all of a threat and not complicit.
11 nuclear scientists had unnatural deaths during 2009-13 in the country, latest data provided by Department of Atomic Energy shows.
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 at died in a mysterious fire in the chemistry lab of Barc, Trombay in 2010.
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.
A D-grade scientist at RRCAT also allegedly committed suicide with police closing the case.
Another scientist posted at Kalpakkam allegedly jumped into the sea to end his life in 2013 with the 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.
Atomic energy department saw 70 unnatural deaths in eight years
The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre alone saw 38 of its officials die unnaturally, primarily because of accidents, between 1 January 2008 and 1 October 2016.
PS: You should note that now NDA is the ruling coalition instead of UPA since 2014. Situation is much likely to improve because NDA is pro-nuclear, as they did Pokhran-II in 1998.
I doubt they can ultimately protect them, research takes decades and they want to live normal lives. Even the US Presidents hate their security bubble.
Short of putting them in military bases for decades...but even then, a bomb from above will take them out.
I dated the granddaughter of a nuclear physicist involved with U.S. government projects. The CIA always watched him and he knew it as part of the job. They wanted to make sure he didn't leak and that he was safe.
OK, how many can CIA watch? And isn't the "other" CIA plotting to kill you...cat and mouse? One mistake and you're kaput. If you want a person dead, he's dead: minus a few heads of state that have 10,000 cops when they go to give a speech.
Not really, the nuclear physicists were largely allowed to travel freely. I am currently reading (listening to the audable book actually) "The making of the atomic bomb" by Richard Rhodes. I highly recommend the book.
Comments
I wonder if there was any update to this in the last 4 years.
That strikes me as odd, the possibility not mentioned in the article is that the Indian government is responsible. The behaviors of the Indian government in the article do sound suspicious. I understand not wanting to signal to your scientists the level of danger they're in but, given how valuable an asset these people are to the country, that India would've tried to protect them if it was aware at all of a threat and not complicit.
Here is update:
From: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/11-nuclear-scienti...
similar article from Sunday Guardian newspaper.
From: http://www.sundayguardianlive.com/investigation/7559-atomic-...
PS: You should note that now NDA is the ruling coalition instead of UPA since 2014. Situation is much likely to improve because NDA is pro-nuclear, as they did Pokhran-II in 1998.
Thank you for this.
I doubt they can ultimately protect them, research takes decades and they want to live normal lives. Even the US Presidents hate their security bubble.
Short of putting them in military bases for decades...but even then, a bomb from above will take them out.
I dated the granddaughter of a nuclear physicist involved with U.S. government projects. The CIA always watched him and he knew it as part of the job. They wanted to make sure he didn't leak and that he was safe.
I'd rather be watched than suicided.
OK, how many can CIA watch? And isn't the "other" CIA plotting to kill you...cat and mouse? One mistake and you're kaput. If you want a person dead, he's dead: minus a few heads of state that have 10,000 cops when they go to give a speech.
Security is always a game of making something expensive enough that your adversary doesn't succeed.
Maybe that's why they have only killed a number of them
That’s how the successful nuclear programs have done it, from the very beginning.
Not really, the nuclear physicists were largely allowed to travel freely. I am currently reading (listening to the audable book actually) "The making of the atomic bomb" by Richard Rhodes. I highly recommend the book.
I didn't interpret that as travel restrictions. Just put them under protection in everyday life, via secret cities.
The technology and the engineering side, partially, not the science.
When people in politics and journalism say "nuclear scientists", that's who they mean.