Terror threat at Kolkata Port, high alert sounded

According to reports received, central intelligence agencies have reportedly intercepted some telephonic conversations  after which a high alert has been sounded in the port area.

Intelligence sources said after some intercepts suggested that there was a terror threat to the Kolkata port, the West Bengal government held a high-level security meeting with central agencies, the Army and the Navy and decided to sanitise the port.

It has been learnt that an emergency meeting was taken place between port officials, Kolkata Police and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials in Kolkata on Tuesday.

The development came after central intelligence agencies warned that naval wing of Al-Qaeda are planning to attack Kolkata Port.

Two Indian Navy warships, missile frigate 'INS Khukri' and an offshore Patrol Vessel OPV Sumitra, that had docked at Kolkata for Navy week celebrations on Tuesday, have been instructed to leave port immediately and have gone back to sea.

A Defence Ministry statement said they had been "withdrawn for undisclosed operational reasons."

When contacted by IBNS, Naval Officer-in-Charge (NOC) West Bengal, Commodore Ravi Ahluwalia also declined to comment anything on the terror threat front. He though admitted that instruction came from Eastern Naval headquarters in the morning about the ships' pullout.

The warships were scheduled to be anchored in Kolkata till Friday, and were to be opened to the public on Wednesday and Thursday.

Ahluwalia said, HQ has instructed him to restrict public view of the ships.

Defence CPRO Group Captain T K Singha said " The pullout has nothing to do with any terror alert. The recall of ships is strictly due to operational reasons."

Earlier, a defence press statement issued on Tuesday stated: "The alacrity by which Indian warships are ready for operations at a short notice was demonstrated by the quick turnaround of the two visiting warships - INS Khukri and INS Sumitra - that had just berthed at Kidderpore yesterday, 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."

Media reported that central intelligence agencies have warned that terrorists may be aided by Pakistan navy to attack Kolkata port. 

Security has also been ramped up in Haldia port. 

The naval agencies and coast guard have also been alerted.

(Reporting by Susanta Das, Image courtesy MoD)