Six men were arrested for stealing soil laced with silver from the defunct Hindustan Photo Films (HPF) factory in Nilgiris.The factory, operational since 1960, ceased operations in 2018 due to economic factors.The soil, stored in parts of the factory, contained trace amounts of silver nitrate from film production processes.Local residents, informed by scrap teams about the presence of precious metals, began stealing soil.Police seized over 40 sacks of soil and a vehicle used for transportation.The arrested group included Suresh, branch secretary of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and others.Investigations continue into the theft, which highlights environmental and legal concerns over abandoned industrial sites.

The case underscores the challenges faced by authorities in managing decommissioned factories and preventing illegal activities linked to residual materials.