Kolkata: Patrolling has been intensified at the Kolkata Port Trust following inputs of threat perception at the port and its installations, reports suggested on Tuesday.
The terror alert was reportedly received on Monday night after a couple of intercepts suggested that Kolkata Port was under threat of terror attack.
After a meeting with all stakeholders yesterday, West Bengal government, Coast Guard, CISF, Navy and Army, it was decided to sanitise the port.
Also, INS Khukri and INS Sumitra have been sent to undisclosed location after intelligence intercepts said that there were threats of attack on Navy warships as well.
The Indian Navy warships had docked at Kolkata for Navy week celebrations but now have gone back to sea.
They were scheduled to be anchored in Kolkata till Friday. They were to be opened to the public on Wednesday and Thursday this week.
The Coast Guard has reportedly been told to intensify sea patrolling and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has been asked to enhance patrolling at the various installations and sensitive points at the port.
Also the local police have been asked to be vigilant at Kolkata and Haldia.
A senior Kolkata police official was quoted by PTI as saying that said that inputs had been received from central security agencies that there might be a terror attack in Kolkata, especially in the port area. “We have beefed up security in the port area and have put the entire city under security blanket,” he said.
However, when asked whether the withdrawal of the ships were because of the terror alert, Defence CPRO Group Captain T K Singha said “no, it has nothing to do with any terror alert. The recall of ships is strictly due to operational reasons.”
A Defence press statement issued in Kolkata said “the alacrity by which Indian warships are ready for operation at a short notice was demonstrated by the quick turnaround of the two visiting warships amply showcasing Indian Navy’s prompt readiness as the two warships are set to sail out within hours of a recall to the sea for undisclosed ‘operational reasons’ on orders by Eastern Naval Command HQ, today.”
Kolkata Port Trust is India’s only riverine port and was set up in 1870.
Kolkata Port Trust has two systems — the Kolkata Dock System and the Haldia Dock Complex.
