Postal Dept. closely monitoring overseas mail

NEW DELHI, OCT. 18. A close watch is being maintained on all international mail in the wake of anthrax scare. ``We are keeping our fingers crossed and maintaining a close watch on international mail,'' Member Secretary (operations) of the Postal Department, Mr. Gautam Gupta, said here.Mr. Gupta said mail sorters had been asked to follow all norms, including those prescribed by the Universal Postal Union of the United Nations.They have been asked to take precautions like wearing of gloves and masks while opening any suspicious-looking mail.The Department had no equipment to detect any letter containing anthrax powder, but in case of suspicion, it would seek help from other agencies.Meanwhile, the National Institute of Communicable Diseases is examining two envelopes received from a private hospital and a police station here for presence of any anthrax spores.

These had some powdery substances and though preliminary investigation did not show presence of anthrax, the institute was carrying out detailed investigations, according to its Director, Dr.K.K. Dutta. Though the Postal Department had not stopped receiving or sending any mail, the letters for the U.S. were being closely monitored.``We can subject a letter suspected of carrying anthrax drug to undergo some tests before being sent to theaddressee,'' Mr. Gupta said.Meanwhile, a report from Kochi said there were reports of anthrax scare from parts of Kerala with the latest case comingfrom Tripunithura where a person received a letter from Malaysia smeared with ``white powder'' yesterday.Police said that on seeing the ``white powder'' the addressee, Mr. Govindaswamy, informed the cops who have referred it to the district medical authorities for examination. Anthrax scares have been reported from the districts of Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Kottayam. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry is also making concerted efforts to educate people on the diseases that terrorists might try to spread through biological weapons.

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Mystery parcels

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, OCT. 18. The receipt of two ``mysterious parcels'' at two key installations near here sent officials into a tizzy.

The Director-General of Police, Mr. B.P. Nailwal, said the parcels containing ``some powder'' were received at the Indian Air Force Station, Tambaram, and at the nuclear power plant at Kalpakkam. Officers at the installations handed them over to police who sent them for lab analysis. Senior Government officials said the results were awaited.

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