Union home minister Chidambaram said coastal security has been put on alert and a massive search operation launched after security agencies received reports about the movement of a suspicious boat off the coast of Diu. He said information had been received from fishermen that a boat named Al Salam and bearing a certain registration number had been spotted. He suggested the name and registration number might be fake since the real name and registration number have been traced. “A massive search is on. Neither the Navy, nor the Coast Guard has been able to identify the boat. Coastal security has been alerted,” he said. Vigil along the 40-km coastline of Mumbai has been beefed up. Mr Chidambaram, however, allayed fears of a possible sea-borne terror strike. “There is no threat to the coast of India ... This boat poses no threat to the coast... Everybody has been put on alert.”
Mohsin has been on the radar of the security agencies and is believed to be in charge of the IM module in Pune. Speaking at the home ministry’s monthly press conference, Mr Chidambaram said the accounts were frozen under Section 51A of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Apart from Mohsin’s accounts, two bank accounts held by self-styled “Brigadier” Ningthoujam Rajen Singh, “C-in-C and finance secretary” of the Kanglei Yawol Kanna Lup (KYKL) with ICICI Bank at Guwahati have also been frozen. Two bank accounts held by Rajen Singh’s associate in the State Bank of India’s Kurseong branch were also seized.
Mr Chidambaram said, “We intend to press our request for access to David Headley for questioning him and for recording his testimony.” India is also studying the plea bargain agreement between Headley and the US government in the light of the provisions of the extradition treaty between India and the US, he said. On sending a letter to the US to seek access to Headley, Mr Chidambaram said: “It is a legal document... It is being vetted.” On whether India would also seek access to Headley’s associate, Tahawwur Rana, Mr Chidambaram said since Rana has pleaded not guilty, the government would “think what action should be taken and what action can be taken” only after he is chargesheeted.
On the investigation into the recent Pune blast, he said, “I don’t have information to share with you. I have indication that progress has been made.”
At the press conference, Mr Chidambaram said the AP government has issued a notification for acquisition of land for the National Security Guard regional centre at Hyderabad. The Home Minister said a CCTV system has also been approved for 29 markets and checkposts in the national capital and an advance withdrawal of 70 per cent (Rs 47.62 crores) of the total cost was sanctioned on March 17. The home minister said four battalions (around 4,000 personnel) of the anti-Naxal Special Action Force, earlier known as CoBRA, in the CRPF, have been operationalised on Wednesday.
The government has also sanctioned 481 firewing posts for the CISF to augment its strength at five PSUs. While three units are power stations, the rest are a mining firm and a steel maker. The largest chunk of the new posts went to Neyveli Lignite Corp in Tamil Nadu with 272 additional posts, the monthly report released by Mr Chidambaram said.
Age Correspondent