Terror threat leads to high alert on Kolkata port in India

India-based Kolkata port has been reportedly placed on high alert after central intelligence reports of alleged terror strike in the port area by militants posing as fishermen between 04 and 07 November.

The latest security shakedown, following the alert issued by Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW), has led the Indian Navy to pull out its two docked warships from the port as a preventative measure.

The two navy vessels, INS Khukri and INS Sumitra, were docked at Kolkata port as part of the navy week celebrations.

Indian Coast Guard senior official BN Mahato was quoted by AFP as saying: "We received a fax on Tuesday afternoon from central intelligence agencies warning of the possibility of a terror attack in Calcutta, especially in the port area.

"We have deployed hovercraft to intensify a night-long vigil in the Bay of Bengal."

As per the alert, Pakistani marines’ backed terrorists, disguised as fishermen, would probably enter Indian waters.

West Bengal Naval officer-in-charge commodore Ravi Ahluwalia said: "Marine patrolling at the India-Bangladesh sea border in the Bay of Bengal has been enhanced in view of the alert.

"We have electronic surveillance on seagoing vessels, especially the fishing trawlers plying in the region."

The latest threat alert comes in the wake of findings of a Bangladeshi jihadi module in Bengal and the effort by al-Qaida’s Indian sub-continent group to hijack Pakistani frigate PNS Aslat at Karachi in September.