Theft, vandalism reported on India’s future aircraft carrier

Police officials in India have confirmed that a number of electronic devices had been stolen from the country’s future locally-built aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant.

Investigators said the stolen hardware included hard disks, random access memory (RAM), and processors needed to operate some of the ship’s systems.

Four dismantled computers were found at the crime scene, leading officials to conclude that the stolen items had been forcibly removed.

The Kerala Police, which is leading the multi-agency probe into the theft, said that Cochin Shipyard had not installed CCTV cameras or surveillance sensors on the ship, thereby allowing the perpetrators to enter and leave Vikrant unnoticed.

The small size of the stolen items enabled these to be easily carried off the ship without raising suspicion, police officials added.

Private security personnel have since been posted at the area on the ship where the theft occurred.

The Central Industrial Security Force of the Ministry of Home Affairs had been tasked with ensuring the carrier’s security while it is undergoing construction. However, the agency is only mandated to provide protection against sea-borne attacks.