Kolkata: Kolkata is a city where abductions and homicides still make newspaper headlines.
And that's largely because of the fact the city has never had to cope with an organized mafia or terrorist activities.
The only terrorist strike that Kolkata has ever witnessed was the attack on the American Center in June 2003, which the city had nearly forgotten until Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) militant arrested on Monday reportedly told the police that he and two others were planning explosions in the city.
The city appears to be back on the terror radar.
The arrest of Tariq Akhtar, who is believed to be a trained LeT militant, led to the arrest of two others. Akhtar has reportedly confessed to plotting explosions in Kolkata and the police say the city is back on the radar screen of terrorist outfits.
However, top cops claim that thanks to solid intelligence network, militants couldn't strike the city as they had planned.
Kolkata Police Commissioner, Prasun Mukherjee says, "Every arrest should not be immediately interpreted as the presence of terrorists in the city. The very fact that the arrests are being made shows that the police and the intelligence agencies of both Kolkata and West Bengal as well as the Government of India all are very active and are working together to put an end to terror."
Whatever the administration might claim, Kolkata isn't just a hideout anymore - it's a target. And the fact has far-reaching implications for the city, which is desperately trying to attract investments from companies in India and abroad.
A terrorist attack would cost Kolkata its 'safe' image, which gives this city an edge over other metros in the country.
With terrorists eyeing Kolkata, preventive intelligence is now as important as investment-friendly industrial policies for the economic growth of Bengal.
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