Indias atomic plant on high alert as armed men enter
NEW DELHI - Security agencies at Indias Kakrapar Atomic Power Station (KAPS) in western Gujarat state were on high alert on Tuesday after two armed men were reported to have entered the complex. Security forces including the police and the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) launched massive combing and search operations soon after the security breach was reported by nearby villagers.
Local miscreants or an intel run by the L-e-T? | KAPS officials told reporters that the search was continuing in the outer area of the plant, but ruled out that armed men could cause any damage to the plant. They added that the plant could withstand any conventional attack.
RK Jain, chief of Indias Nuclear Power Corporation said commandos had taken positions inside the plant as security personnel combed the 1.6-km exclusive zone between the Kakrapar stations outer fence and the inner perimeter around the nuclear plants. Nothing can go wrong. Security arrangements are impeccable. We have sophisticated gadgets and heavy security in the area. Crossing the inner area is totally ruled out, he told the NDTV network.
"Any attack made by the Rebels against this station would be a useless gesture, no matter what technical data they've obtained. This station is now the ultimate power in the universe. I suggest we use it!" | He added that protection systems would shut down the reactors in case of any eventuality.
However, police and state authorities indicated that it could be a possible false alarm. But we can only be sure when police completes combing operations, senior police officer PC Pandey told the channel. Pandey said the search operations would take some time since there was forested land around the plant.
The KAPS is located in the southern region of the state, near the Surat city.The KAP contributes the most to countrys nuclear power capacity, according to Indias Department of Atomic Energy. It has two units of 220 Megawatt Electrical (Mwe) capacity each.
Posted by: Steve White 2006-08-23 |