SIT reaches Sabarimala for fresh sample collection in gold loss probe
Pathanamthitta (Kerala) (PTI): The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged loss of gold from artefacts at the Sabarimala temple reached the hill shrine on Thursday as part of fresh sample collection for scientific analysis, police sources said.
The team, led by SP S Sasidharan, reached Pampa, the base camp of Sabarimala, in the morning and later proceeded to Sannidhanam by afternoon, officials said.
The SIT decided to collect fresh samples for scientific analysis after being granted permission by the Kerala High Court on Monday.
According to police sources, the Sabarimala temple will open for the monthly pooja at 5 pm on Thursday and close on February 17 at 10 pm, as per the schedule.
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The SIT is expected to collect samples after the temple closes for the day following various poojas at the Sannidhanam, sources said.
Officials said the SIT would be assisted by personnel from the Legal Metrology Department, the forensic laboratory and skilled artisans to remove the gold-plated covering of artefacts in the Sreekovil and its pillars.
The SIT is probing two cases related to the alleged loss of gold from the Dwarapalaka (guardian deity) idol plates and the doorframes of the Sreekovil (sanctum sanctorum).
The SIT had submitted before the Kerala High Court that advanced scientific analysis was indispensable to establish, with precision and objectivity, the extent of material alteration, the nature of metallurgical manipulation, and the quantum of gold originally present and subsequently depleted.
It had proposed to conduct X-ray Fluorescence Spectroscopy (XRF) to determine surface elemental composition, Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) for ultra-trace impurity and elemental profiling, and Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES) to analyse alloy composition and metallurgical uniformity.
The SIT had informed the court that it had approached premier national research institutions and laboratories, including the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai, the National Metallurgical Laboratory in Jamshedpur, and the Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory in Hyderabad, to undertake the specialised tests.
Earlier, the SIT had collected similar samples last year for analysis at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre, but such facilities were not available there.
While granting permission, the Kerala High Court had observed that allegations involving the removal and substitution of precious gold cladding from the holy shrine strike at the very sanctity of the temple and cannot rest solely on testimonial assertions or documentary records, which may be susceptible to omission, manipulation or interpretative dispute.
The court had said it was satisfied that advanced forensic and metallurgical examination was absolutely essential and that the results would form the bedrock of the prosecution’s case.
The court has directed the SIT to file a report on February 19, updating it on the samples collected from the Sabarimala temple and the agencies to which they were sent for scientific analysis.
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Bihar: Over 150 children fall ill after consuming 'mid-day meal' in Saharsa
Saharsa (PTI): More than 150 children were taken ill after allegedly consuming food that was part of the mid-day meal in a school in Bihar’s Saharsa district, a senior official said on Thursday.
The incident occurred at a middle school in Baluaha village of the district.
The official said that 115 children were undergoing treatment at the Sadar Hospital, while around 50 students were admitted to Mahishi Public Health Centre.
“We received information that several children fell ill after consuming the mid-day meal in Baluaha. The children were initially treated at the primary health centre, but later, many were referred to the Sadar Hospital,” Saharsa District Magistrate Deepesh Kumar told reporters.
“According to doctors, the health condition of the children has improved, but they will be kept under observation for some time. There is no need to panic. Some kids are having mild fever. They are being treated accordingly,” Kumar said.
Meanwhile, family members of some children claimed that a snake was found in the container in which cooked pulses was stored at the school.
Of the 545 students present in the school, 200 had already eaten their meals by the time the snake was spotted, and later complained of stomach ache and vomiting, they said.
Regarding the claims, the DM said food samples have been collected from the school.
“We will be able to comment on this only after the results of the tested samples arrive,” he said.
