Heroes Overnight

Siddharth and Vicky,one a class XII student and another contract worker with Hindustan Antibiotics Ltd,believe that it was their prime duty to take the material to the police even if that meant losing life in the process. “We knew it was a dangerous material as the police hand been making the announcement in our area,” says Siddharth and Vicky. “We knew something would happen on the way. But rather than thinking about ourselves we thought about everybody else. That’s why we carried the material to the police bindaas. Had we not done this,many people would have died,” says the duo even as they put their arms around each other in a show of solidarity and friendship.

The “dangerous material” was nothing but a radioactive camera. It was brought to Pune by a private company from Mumbai for on the request of the Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL) to check its underground compressed natural gas pipelines. After testing the pipelines,the team was on way to Mumbai when the radioactive camera apparently fell off the Tata Sumo at Pimpri Chowk on Sunday evening. On Monday,the team lodged a complaint with the Sant Tukaram Nagar police who then launched a search for the radioactive camera. The police went around the Gandhinagar area and announced on public address system that the radioactive material should be immediately returned if anybody had found it. At least four police vehicles made rounds of the area and made desperate pleas to the residents,but all in vain. Just when the police returned,the two youngsters found small children playing with portable device. “It also had a key with which it could be opened. Luckily,the small kids did not show their smartness,” says Siddharth. MNGL managing director S Rao said the device would not have exploded. The radioactive camera carried radioactive isotopes. “It was not a bomb. But it would have emitted radiation which would have harmed people in a 50-metre area,” he said. Rao said the camera was requisitioned in public interest. “We wanted to ensure the safety of our pipelines. That’s why the camera was brought in to check pipelines. All this is necessary and future safety measure,” he said.

Meanwhile,the two youths have been honoured by the Maharashtra Rickshaw Panchayat. Since morning,they were besieged by reporters from print and TV channels,some of whom went live interviewing the youngsters. Baba Kamble of the panchyat said,”All the people in the area are proud of the two youngsters. Without fearing for their lives,they carried the material on the two-wheeler,” he said. Vicky says his mother was “quite scared” when she heard about his brave act. “She cried a lot….she said why didn’t I think about the family….I said everybody is important for me,” he says. Siddharth says his family patted him and said they were proud of him

The youngsters said at the police chowky everybody profusely thanked and patted them. “But nobody was ready to give us a cup of chai…we had to ask for the tea,” they said. Police inspector Nandkumar Pinjan said because of the two youngsters,a tragedy was averted.