A massive search operation was launched Tuesday at Kakrapar Atomic Power Station near Surat after villagers reported seeing two armed men in its vicinity, but security forces found no intruders.
The Central Industrial Security Force, which is responsible for guarding all nuclear facilities, informed the home ministry that no persons were found in or around the Kakrapar station following an intensive search by its personnel and the Gujarat Police. CISF chief S I S Ahmed, in his message to the home ministry, said "everything is clear and no one was found in the premises, which were completely safe."
Amit Shah, Gujarat's minister of state for home told rediff.com, "Local people had informed Central Industrial Security Force that they have seen two armed people in the area near Kakarapar. Accordingly, CISF which is responsible for the security of the power project informed the local police and combing operations were carried out."
A senior engineer at the dam site told rediff.com, "We have carried out combing operation and no intruders have been found at the dam site."
"No specific information about terrorists getting inside the complex has come to us," Amit Shah said in Ahmedabad.
Home Secretary V K Duggal said information was received by the CISF that two men dressed as sadhus and probably carrying weapons were spotted at a place between the outer and inner fences of the complex. However, on scanning the entire area, the security forces found nothing.
Duggal said the Kakrapar station was absolutely safe and there was nothing to worry about. Immediately after villagers reported the presence of the two men to the authorities, state police and CISF troops launched a combing operation while commandos took position in the control room of the nuclear reactors.
Nuclear Power Corporation of India Chairman S K Jain, who was in New Delhi, said the multi-layered security at the station was capable of dealing with any intrusion. The station, which has two 220MW plants, has protection systems to shut down the reactors in any eventuality, he said.
"If at all they...entered the plant, they cannot do anything. The plants can withstand any conventional attack," Jain asserted. Security at nuclear facilities across the country was recently stepped up following reports that terrorists could target them. The security at the Kakrapar station includes dog squads, commandos and hi-tech gadgets to prevent intrusions, officials said. "There is no cause for worry. I can assure you nothing can go wrong. We are confident about the (security measures) in the area," Jain said.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was kept informed about the incident, official sources said in New Delhi.
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