Forensic experts in Kerala police are scanning finger and palm prints of around 1,200 people, including Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) officials, engineers and non-technical staff, to find the thief or thieves who stole hard disks, RAMs and processors from INS Vikrant, the country’s first Indigenous Aircraft Carrier (IAC). The vessel is being built by the Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) in Kerala.
Designed by the Directorate of Naval Design of the Indian Navy, INS Vikrant is the first warship being constructed by the CSL. Many private and public firms are involved in the construction of aircraft carriers.
Crucial stage
The CSL’s 2018-19 annual report, released in the first quarter of this year, says that the IAC project has progressed well and it is in a very critical phase of the project with equipment being energised and commissioned and the setting to work (STW) of various systems underway.
“During the latter part of this year (2019) and early next year, we are targeting to achieve significant milestones on the project. Major efforts have been put in and I am happy to report that discussions are at advanced stages to conclude the contract for the final phase of the IAC project,” Madhu S. Nair, the chairman and managing director of the CSL, says.
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Once the IAC becomes operational, probably by 2021, India will join an elite group of countries including the US, Russia, China, England and France which have built their own fight carriers.
The CSL report reveals that the project is undergoing a critical stage and hence, the theft is a matter of serious concern.
Four computers that were installed in INS Vikrant were dismantled and four hard disks, RAMs and processors were reportedly stolen.
Till now, the date and time of the theft are unknown. However, according to reports, the theft was noticed on September 13, when the vessel’s integrated platform management system (IPMS) was operated. The IPMS is a computerised system used to monitor a vessel’s course.
“It was faulty. And the processor, RAM and a hard disk installed in the computer system were found to be stolen. Six RAMs of three computers were also missing. So were three processors of as many computers and three hard disks. The stolen devises are worth [Rs] 2.10 lakh,” the report adds.
Following the discovery, the CSL lodged a complaint at the South Kochi police station and the Kerala police formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case.
The carrier being undocked. Photo: Twitter/Spokesperson MoD
‘Could sink the vessel’
“We have got 12 finger and palm prints from the crime scene. The thief or thieves have used screwdrivers to unlock the computer’s central processing unit. While we are scanning 1,200 finger and palm prints to find the suspects, we have been told by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) to scan some 2,000 more finger and palm prints,” an official said, requesting anonymity.
According to the official, the stolen hard disks reportedly have sensitive data about the IPMS.
“It [the IPMS] is a computerised system used onboard ships to monitor the working and course of the vessel and to warn against safety risks. If the culprits can crack the system, then they can even sink the vessel,” the official added.
According to the CSL annual report, trials of the IPMS have commenced.
A week after the Kerala police investigation, the NIA had taken over the case.
Waging and abetting war
Meanwhile, reports said that considering the gravity of the case, the NIA had re-registered the case by including sections of waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against the nation.
The report added that the NIA has included IPC Sections 121 (waging or attempting to wage war, or abetting waging of war against the nation), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences under IPC section 121), besides Sections 457 (trespassing to commit offence), 461 (dishonestly breaking open receptacle containing property) and 380 (theft) that was earlier charged by the Kerala police.
The agency has also included cyber terrorism charges under Section 66F of the Information Technology Act in the case. The theft has happened even when special security attention was accorded to the IAC.
According to the CSL report, all security systems and measures introduced and installed in the company were of international standards. “Periodic joint survey was conducted by the CSL and CISF. Twenty-four hours waterfront patrolling in a dedicated speed boat with armed personnel and wireless surveillance (CCTV) system covering all critical locations and installations are in place,” the CSL report adds.
Till March 31, the CSL has got Rs 175,676.28 lakhs from the operations of the IAC project.
The article was originally published on The Lede. You can read it here.