Kolkata on high alert following terror threat

15 ultras have entered state, say intelligence agencies

The state government has issued a high alert since Wednesday after reports from central intelligence agencies informed the state administration that a team of at least 15 terrorists have entered the state with plans to execute terror activities.

  This comes at a time when seven suspected ISI agents have been apprehended from different parts of Kolkata in the last fortnight.

Reports from central intelligence suggested that the terrorist team, believed to have entered via Bangladesh, could launch ‘fidayeen’ style attacks in Kolkata and some other important installations in other parts of Bengal. Although the administration is tight-lipped over the matter, an official in the know of things acknowledged having received such inputs from the Home ministry.

The threat perception earns significance with the Special Task Force (STF) of the Kolkata Police having arrested seven suspected ISI agents since November 10 from different parts of the city.

While the first two arrests were made from central Kolkata between November 10 and 16, three persons from the same family were arrested from the port area on November 29.

On Wednesday, the STF apprehended two other people for reportedly acting on behalf of the Pakistani counter-intelligence agency ISI. The first person to be arrested on December 2 is 59-year-old Sheikh Badal, a man who worked as a tout to facilitate passport, PAN card and other identification documents.

Another man, yet unnamed, was arrested on Wednesday night from near the city airport, based on information received by interrogating the men arrested from port area, claimed officials.

“We’ve received inputs there could be a terror attack on Kolkata, especially in the port area. We have increased security around the port and have put the entire city under a security blanket,” a senior police officer said. He further said that agencies believe the attack on Kolkata could be in the way terrorists carried out the 26/11 attack on Mumbai.

“Inputs suggest they could use small boats to embark somewhere in the port area and launch the attack,” he said.

Meanwhile, sources said that following preliminary interrogation, Badal admitted to having arranged for forged identification documents for a number of people. He, however, could not provide any further information on the end users, officials said.

“He seems to be a part of a large network of ISI agents operating from the city. It seems most of them were activated from time to time to provide logistical support and shelter to people arriving from Bangladesh and Nepal,” a source said.