Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was admitted to a private hospital in Mohali after experiencing health complications, even as a threatening email claiming he had been “infected” with the radioactive substance polonium prompted heightened security and a multi-agency probe.
Mann was initially admitted to Fortis Hospital on Sunday after his blood pressure reportedly spiked. He was discharged on Monday and later attended an anti-drug rally organized by the Aam Aadmi Party in Moga.
However, he complained of breathing difficulties during the event and was re-admitted to the hospital around 5 pm the same day. Hospital authorities have not publicly indicated any connection between his medical condition and the threat.
Threatening Email Claims Polonium Exposure
The latest alarm was triggered after a group identifying itself as the Khalistan National Army sent an email to Punjab Police claiming that the Chief Minister had been exposed to polonium. The message further warned that if Mann survived, he would face the same fate as former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated in 1995.
The email also threatened to bomb the hospital where Mann is being treated and 16 schools across the state. Security agencies immediately intensified security at key locations and began investigating the origin and credibility of the threat.
This is the second such email within a week. On February 11, the same organization had claimed that a “human bomb” would target the Chief Minister on February 13. The earlier message referenced Dilawar Singh, the constable who carried out the suicide bombing that killed Beant Singh at the Chandigarh Secretariat on August 31, 1995.
Why the Mention of Polonium Is Concerning
The reference to polonium has significantly escalated concerns due to the substance’s deadly reputation. Polonium-210 is an extremely radioactive element that emits alpha radiation. While relatively harmless outside the body, it becomes highly toxic when ingested or inhaled.
Once inside the body, polonium damages cellular DNA and can lead to severe radiation poisoning. Even microscopic quantities can be fatal.
Early symptoms—including nausea, vomiting, fever, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and weakness—may resemble common illnesses, making early detection difficult. In severe cases, radiation exposure can cause organ failure, internal bleeding, immune system collapse, and death.
Because it has no taste or odor and can be mixed into food or drink, polonium is often described as a “silent poison.”
Past High-Profile Cases
Polonium has previously been linked to international political controversies. In 2006, former Russian intelligence officer Alexander Litvinenko died in London after consuming tea laced with polonium-210.
A British public inquiry later concluded that he was poisoned in an assassination widely regarded as the first confirmed case of radioactive murder.
Similarly, after the death of Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat in 2004, suspicions of polonium poisoning surfaced. In 2012, forensic examinations of his exhumed remains reportedly detected elevated levels of the radioactive element, though experts differed over whether it conclusively proved poisoning.
Investigation Underway
Given the substance’s history and lethal potential, authorities are treating the email as a serious security matter. Senior officials confirmed that security around the Chief Minister has been strengthened, and medical monitoring continues at the hospital.
Investigators are working to trace the source of the email and assess its credibility. Meanwhile, security has been tightened at public institutions mentioned in the threat, including educational establishments.
Officials have urged the public to remain calm, emphasizing that precautionary measures are in place while the investigation continues.