ISI active around Bengal Naval bases -- Commodore

ISI active around Bengal Naval bases -- Commodore
SABYASACHI BANDOPADHYAY

CALCUTTA, NOV 23: ISI, the foreign espionage service of Pakistan, is active in the area around the naval base in Calcutta, Commodore R.K. Das, Naval Officer-in-Charge, West Bengal, admitted here today.

He was addressing a press conference to announce the holding of the International Fleet Review to be held in Mumbai from February 15-20. Incidentally, the International Fleet Review is being held in India for the first time, with 22 nations participating in it.

``We are fully aware that agencies inimical to the country, including the ISI, are active around the area,'' Das told The Indian Express ``In fact, various Union and state government agencies have alerted us regarding this matter. On our part, we are on our guard to thwart any sort of infiltration or harmful activity,'' the Commodore said.

Among measures taken to strengthen security was stepping up of vigilance around the offices and the Dardenreach Ship Building Yard, increasing the number of floodlights, strict vigil at the gates to prevent unauthorised entry, etc. ``There are various other measures which we have taken but can't reveal at the moment. But what I want to say is that we are on the alert,'' Das said.

Earlier, Commodore Arvind Bali from the Western Naval Command, while speaking on the Fleet Review, said that the naval exercise would be a mega event for the country with spectacular shows of maritime strength from various countries, besides cultural shows. ``As many as 80 ships, including 25 foreign ships, are participating in the event which will be attended by President K.R. Narayanan, Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, among others,'' Bali said.