Red Road tunnel near Fort Willam triggers a scare: Kolkata

[Coalmine]

Red Road tunnel triggers a scare

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Red-Road-tunnel-triggers-a-scare/articleshow/26604411.cms

KOLKATA: The chance discovery of a tunnel below Red Road, bang in front of the main entrance to Eastern Command Headquarters at Fort William, has rattled Kolkata Police, with security agencies not ruling out the possibility of a terror plot or a recce.

Not only had the fortnight-long digging of the tunnel gone undetected in this high security zone, the thought of terrorists packing it with explosives and turning it into a devastating landmine during the Republic Day parade — or just any other day during routine VVIP movement — sent security agencies into tizzy. Police commissioner Surajit Kar Purkayastha and special commissioner Somen Mitra inspected the site.

One of the diggers, 22-year-old Md Sahil, has been arrested and five others detained for questioning. Officers from Military Intelligence, Intelligence Bureau, Kolkata Police and other agencies are interrogating them.

The tunnel, 11.5 feet long and 4.5 feet wide, starts under a thicket just behind the Red Road railings. Kolkata Police is responsible for the security of the area but the tunnel was discovered only because Sahil, a suspected drug-addict, ratted on his accomplices, say sources. Around 9pm on Thursday, Sahil turned up at the police kiosk near Rani Rashmoni Avenue crossing, pointed towards Red Road and jabbered that some addicts are busy hiding stolen items there. A patrol went to check and was stunned to see the tunnel. It's about 20 feet from the SERLY Sports Association tent and close to the point on Red Road where Park Street-bound vehicles take a left. By the time the police team reported back, Sahil had slipped away.

"There were five persons inside the tunnel at that time. Some stolen cables and steel plates were found. The Army was informed. It seems Sahil was part of the gang but fell out with them over sharing of the spoils. On Friday morning, he returned to the tunnel but Military Intelligence officers were waiting for him. They handed him over to us," a Maidan police officer said.

Records show that BSNL employees were the last to work in the area, laying out underground cables. It is possible that they didn't cover up a ditch and the gang extended it into a tunnel, say police. Officers of Special Task Force and IB have inspected the area. "All angles are being probed. We are trying to ascertain if others were involved," Purakayastha said. No terror angle has been found yet, and experts from several agencies are interrogating the accused to get a clearer picture, said joint commissioner (HQ) Rajeev Mishra.

Defence CPRO group captain T K Singha said: "Our security is in place and we are not unduly bothered by this."

 

[happy]

Thank God it was uncovered atleast now. God knows what would have been the effect had it been successfully used by terrorists.