A man was arrested in Mumbai for allegedly distributing rat poison-filled capsules disguised as painkillers during a Muharram procession.
The accused, Faiyaz Premji, 39, had ordered 50 kg of zinc phosphide and 30,000 empty capsules online and filled each with 1 gram of the toxic substance.
Premji was distributing the capsules during the procession, which started from Noor Baug in Dongri and was heading towards Rehmat Baug Kabrastan via Hancock Bridge.
A 26-year-old participant, Salman Sayyad, consumed one of the capsules and complained of nausea and uneasiness, prompting police to detain Premji and record his identity and address.
However, as the condition of those who had consumed the capsules worsened, police traced Premji to a guest house where he was staying and recovered 14,900 capsules filled with zinc phosphide.
Premji has been booked under sections 109, 110, and 123 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, for attempting to cause mass harm.
