Author: Manoj More
Publication: The Indian Express
Date: November 3, 2008
URL: http://www.indianexpress.com/news/4-simi-men-at-khadki-ammo-unit-under-watch/380703/0
Days after one of its employees was caught
selling bullets smuggled out of the heavily-guarded Ammunition Factory, Khadki
(AFK), it has now come to light that the nation's premier arms production
unit has not only been battling regular thefts, but also tracking the movements
of four employees suspected to be associated with the banned Students Islamic
Movement of India (SIMI).
Even as security has been further tightened
in and around the factory, officials said it was an arduous task keeping a
constant watch on the four suspects and that the management was finding it
difficult to get rid of them, given the lengthy Government rules for removal
of an employee from service.
Factory officials said the Intelligence Bureau
and the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) had cautioned about them. "The
first intimation from the intelligence agencies came about four months back
when they asked us to keep a watch on one of the employees. In the last four
months, IB has asked us to monitor the movements of four employees,"
said senior AFK officials.
After the IB tip-off, factory officials had
been keeping the four, who stay in and around Khadki where the factory is
located on a 90-acre land, under constant surveillance.
After the tip-off, the four were immediately
transferred from sensitive departments to non-production departments or administrative
duty, said a senior official. "Secondly, we made our internal checks
more rigorous." Despite the "rigorous" checks, thefts of ammunition
has been continuing, the latest being reported last week.
Of the four SIMI suspects, two have been working
with the factory for 10-15 years and the other two for five years. All of
them were said to be skilled workers. The city police and the Central Bureau
of Investigation (CBI) were also trailing the four suspects. "A shocking
aspect that has emerged is that these suspects are drawing support (in their
nefarious activities) from their families," said factory sources.
Last week, a worker identified as 31-year-old
Bholenath Bhegde, a resident of Range Hills, was caught selling bullets to
a man identified as Santosh Pawar. Officials now reveal that at least five
workers had been caught in the past six months trying to smuggle out bullets
in tiffin boxes.
"All of them have been placed under suspension
and investigations have been started against them." The bullets were
reportedly meant for terrorists and gangsters.
When contacted, factory senior general manager,
confirming that four SIMI suspects were under watch, said the security chief
had all the details. Security chief Col S N Sabnis said they keep receiving
intelligence inputs on daily, weekly and monthly basis. "It is true we
have been asked to keep a watch on certain employees. Their names have also
been provided to us..."
Col Sabnis refused to comment further, citing
security reasons.
