Muharram Procession Plot Foiled: Man Held With 14,900 Rat Poison-Filled Capsules In Mumbai
Muharram Procession Plot Foiled: Man Held With 14,900 Rat Poison-Filled Capsules In Mumbai Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 21:04 IST Police detained the
Muharram Procession Plot Foiled: Man Held With 14,900 Rat Poison-Filled Capsules In Mumbai Published By, Last Updated: June 27, 2026, 21:04 IST Police detained the suspect and recovered 14,900 capsules allegedly filled with zinc phosphide from his possession before they could allegedly be distributed. Rapid Read During interrogation, the accused allegedly told investigators that his intention was to target the Muharram procession. (AI-generated photo) A man has been arrested for allegedly distributing capsules filled with zinc phosphide, a highly toxic rat poison, during a Muharram procession in Mumbai on Friday night, police said. According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central Zone-I) Jayant Meena, a Mumbai Police patrol team became suspicious after spotting the man handing out capsules to participants in the procession under the jurisdiction of Byculla Police Station.
“Last night, during the Muharram procession under the jurisdiction of Byculla Police, a Mumbai Police patrol team found a man distributing capsules to people participating in the procession. Becoming suspicious, the police seized all the capsules in his possession," Meena said. Police detained the suspect and recovered 14,900 capsules allegedly filled with zinc phosphide from his possession before they could allegedly be distributed. A few hours later, Byculla Police received a Medico-Legal Case (MLC) report involving a man identified as Salman Syed, who complained of stomach pain and vomiting after allegedly consuming one of the capsules. During interrogation, the accused allegedly told investigators that his intention was to target the Muharram procession. “For this purpose, he had allegedly procured 50 kilograms of zinc phosphide, a poisonous substance, and had also ordered 30,000 empty capsules," the DCP said.
Police are investigating the motive behind the alleged act and are trying to ascertain whether anyone else was involved. Further investigation is underway. Why Is Zinc Phosphide So Dangerous? Zinc phosphide is a highly toxic chemical widely used as a rodenticide (rat and mouse poison) in agriculture and pest control. It is extremely dangerous to humans and animals if swallowed. The danger comes from what happens after it enters the stomach. When zinc phosphide comes into contact with stomach acid, it releases phosphine gas, a highly poisonous gas that is rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream. This gas damages cells throughout the body and can lead to multiple organ failure. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Saurabh Verma Senior Sub-editor Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Chief Sub-editor.
The BriefWire