VISAKHAPATNAM: In a major security breach, a total of 83 pipe valves used in the warships went missing from the high-security naval dockyard here. Though the theft in the dockyard took place one-and-a-half months ago, it came to light only recently, as local police and the naval authorities are examining the possibilities of the modus operandi of the accused. So far, not much headway has been made.Out of the 130 valves, 83 had gone missing. "The cost of the material could be below Rs1 crore, but the security breach in a defence establishment is a major cause for worry," an official quoting an intelligence report sent to the higher-ups in Delhi said. Intelligence cops are perusing records and have launched an investigation. Sources said the missing valves case is being probed by the
Malkapuram police and the naval internal committee.Insiders said the stolen valves were made of top quality brass and weigh 25 kg each. "They were imported. The culprits might be from the shipping industry and may have sold them in the open market after melting the brass material," sources said.The brass valves could have been shifted from the naval dockyard with the active collusion of the security personnel, sources said. But it remains a mystery as to how the accused hoodwinked their way out, since there are surveillance cameras at all the security gates and a round-the-clock vigil is maintained by the security personnel in the highly protected area.
"The theft might have happened over a period of time as shifting the valves is not an easy task," insiders said.Sources have also not ruled out the possibility of the valves shifted by tippers, as earth removal work was going on for some time.
The authorities left the valves open at the submarine auxiliary department in the naval dockyard and some persons might have taken advantage of this security breach, they said."If any there is any irregularity or disappearance of materials in the defence establishments, the authorities immediately alert
CBI. But since it seems to be an insider job, the authorities are going all out to hush up the matter," the official, quoting the intelligence report, said. In fact, any theft or disappearance of any material should immediately be brought to the notice of the naval headquarters in Delhi and the defence ministry. "But the authorities have not informed them so far," sources said. Even the Malkapuram police are tight-lipped over the incident.
