5 held for trespassing on NDA premises, get bail

PUNE: A patrol team of the National Defence Academy (NDA) apprehended five persons for trespassing on the premises of the institute last week.

The intruders were later handed over to police, who arrested them for an offence under the Maharashtra Police Act. "All five were produced before a local court that ordered their release on bail against a surety of Rs 15,000 each," senior inspector (Uttamnagar police station) Hemant Bhat told TOI.

These persons are from Bihar and West Bengal and had been working as painters for the past five years in the city.

"They had ventured into the campus from the academy's Kondhwa gate side. The NDA security personnel spotted them in the CCTV surveillance and apprehended them. The NDA authorities had questioned them thoroughly before handing them over to us," another police officer said.

"During questioning, we confirmed that the persons were not doing reconnaissance of the campus. We have verified their identity cards and residential proof documents," he added.

The NDA campus is spread over a 7,000-plus acre land at Khadakwasla and is considered sensitive not only from the viewpoint of terror attack but is also seen as vulnerable to poaching as its forest areas boast of many wild animals such as deer and wild boar.

The academy has constructed a 37km-long wall as well as a 42km periphery road to maintain vigil and prevent trespassers from entering into the campus, especially from the hilly region.

An NDA official said, "The 42km boundary road along the wall ensures easy access and constant surveillance. This is a significant step in view of the current security situation and factors such as preservation of flora and fauna. This will also help significantly in the rise of deer population."

He added, "Cutting of sandalwood will be eliminated because of the wall. It is imperative to have adequate security measures, especially when the academy is surrounded by a jungle terrain."