Indian Navy’s under-construction aircraft carrier INS Vikrant was vandalized at Cochin Shipyard Ltd (CSL), as per reports. Four hard disks, random access memory (RAM) and processor were stolen after dismantling four computers installed at the aircraft carrier.
A probe is currently underway but “an internal matter and a possible insider job” is strongly suspected to be the cause behind the theft and vandalism. The probe has been shifted to the State Police. Ernakulam South Police are investigating the complaint by the General Manager of CSL on Sunday.
“The private company handles daily watch and ward. It is a matter of probe if there was any insider hand in allowing someone to leave with the components,” a CISF official was quoted as saying by News18.
A private security firm was hired to watch over the construction area of the dock while the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) was manning the dock for any suspicious movement or possible terror activity. “The disk contains sensitive information crucial for national security and a probe is underway to check if it was an insider job or not,” a person aware of the matter was quoted as saying by Mint.
“There are CCTVs outside the ship construction area. But there are no cameras inside the ship and the construction work is still going on. We are examining the visuals of previous days. The shipyard authorities have no idea when the theft took place. There are many computers installed by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd, based in Bengaluru. But the theft took place in four computers. We cannot disclose more details about the incident,” an investigation officer told TOI.
INS Vikrant, the construction of which began in 2009, is the most prestigious aircraft carrier indigenously built at the Cochin Shipyard. The 40,000-tonne aircraft carrier is at an advanced stage of construction and is being prepared to undergo a series of trial processes and tests before it becomes ready for propulsion and induction into the Indian Navy. The aircraft carrier is slated to be commissioned in 2021.
