Mumbai Muharram Procession: Pune man arrested for distributing rat poison capsules as painkillers
Mumbai Police have arrested a 39-year-old man from Pune for allegedly distributing capsules laced with zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rat poison, to participants at a Muharram procession in south Mumbai after falsely claiming they were painkillers. Police said swift action by officers and hospital staff helped avert a potential mass poisoning incident.
The accused, identified as Faiyaz Premji, was detained by the Byculla Police after officers noticed him handing out capsules to devotees during the procession on Friday night. Authorities seized around 14,900 capsules from his possession, suspecting they contained zinc phosphide, a rodenticide commonly used to kill rats and mice.
The incident came to light after a man who had consumed one of the capsules developed severe stomach pain and vomiting and was admitted to a hospital. Doctors, suspecting foul play, alerted the police, leading to the accused's arrest. The victim is reported to be in stable condition.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Jayant Meena said the accused allegedly confessed that he intended to target people participating in the religious procession. According to police, Premji had ordered 30,000 empty capsules and 50 kg of zinc phosphide, filling each capsule with approximately one gram of the toxic substance. Investigators are working to verify these claims and establish the motive behind the alleged act.
Police said the accused is a BBA graduate from Pune. Investigators are examining his background, recent travel history, including visits to Iran and Iraq, and whether anyone else was involved in the alleged plot. A forensic analysis of the seized capsules is also underway.
Authorities are tracing people who may have received or consumed the capsules and have appealed to the public to immediately report any suspicious health symptoms. A case has been registered, and the investigation is continuing to determine the full extent of the alleged conspiracy.
