The body of Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant scientist Lokanath Mahalingam,which was recovered from the Kali river,was handed over to his family on Sunday after identification. Mahalingam's wife identified the body,which was recovered by Naval divers from the river flowing along the Kaiga township. A team of doctors conducted post-mortem of the body,they said. Police had said on Saturday that they were investigating whether Mahalingam had drowned or there was any foul play. Intelligence officials were also involved in the search operations to locate Mahalingam,a scientific officer in the Kaiga generating station of the Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) associated with its training department. Earlier six days after he went missing,Kaiga Nuclear Power Plant scientist N Mahalingam's body was fished out by naval divers from the Kali river late on Saturday night. Forty-seven-year-old Mahalingam,was reported missing by his wife on June 8 when he failed to return from his morning walk,police said. Police said they are investigating whether Mahalingam had drowned or there was any foul play in his death. The Kaiga nuclear power plant authorities have identified the body of Mahalingam,police said adding that his family members have also confirmed that the body,recovered from the river flowing near the Kaiga township,belonged to the scientist. As the disappearance of Mahalingam caused concern,authorities of Nuclear Power Corporation of India Ltd (NPCIL) had said the scientist,involved in training at one of the simulator training centres,did not have any access to sensitive documents. They had also dismissed fears that Mahalingam was involved in any strategic programme. The scientist had earlier worked with Madras Atomic Power Project (MAPP) in Kalpakkam near Chennai. According to officials,it was the second time Mahalingam was reported missing. Earlier,while working at Kalpakkam,he went missing for few days but had returned home later. Union Home Minister P Chidambaram had said in Chennai earlier today that intelligence officials had intensified the search for the missing scientist. The five naval divers,who fished out Mahalingam's body,belonged to the Naval base at Karwar,Seabird,whose assistance was sought to carry out the search operations. The navy divers were pressed into service after the search by the local divers was of no avail,Karwar Superintendent of Police R Gupta said. Local divers had searched a stretch of 35 to 40 km in the Kali river,which runs along the Kaiga township,from where Mahalingam had disappeared. Searches were also carried out by intelligence officials along with personnel of CISF,local police and forest department,in the nearby forests of the township,before the body was found.
