VISAKHAPATNAM: Exactly a week after the 8,140-tonne nuclear-powered attack submarine INS Chakra was inducted into the Indian Navy on a 10-year lease from Russia, a brazen attempt was made to steal key documents pertaining to the submarine from a star hotel here on Wednesday.
Police are trying to trace the unidentified assailant with the help of the video footage. Speculation is rife that the accused fled The spot by taking away some important documents on security matters. The attempt to steal the secret documents was made in Novotel Hotel room (No. 534) of a high- ranked Russian officer T Alexander when he was away. Alexander, who is a vice admiral rank officer, was shocked to see his room lock broken when he returned around 2.30 pm. He immediately called the police.
He had kept 80,000 worth Russian currency, a laptop, some electronic gadgets and Rs 2,000 Indian currency in the room which were intact.
A senior police official said the accused had tried in vain to break open the secret locker in the room. But unconfirmed reports said he walked away with some documents from the locker. It remains a mystery as to how the accused could easily make his way to the top ranking official’s room in a high-profile star hotel where security is fool-proof. A Clues team and fingerprint experts were rushed to the hotel soon after the Russian’s complaint.
Sources said Alexander had come to Vizag on March 30 to train the sailors of INS Chakra. “He would be camping here for nearly a month. Several Russian officers are also staying in star hotels like Park, Taj Gateway and Novotel,” sources said.
When contacted, city police commissioner Purnachandra Rao said that an attempt was made to burgle the room. “We would track the accused with the help of the video footage and arrest him. No document has been stolen,” he said. He refused to divulge any further details. Naval authorities refused to comment on the matter.