Fearing violence, crew on INS Kirpan, INS Airawat scrap plan to tour Kolkata

KOLKATA: Nearly 3,000 people visited INS Kirpan and INS Airawat, berthed in Kolkata for the Navy Day celebrations over the last two days but the crew of the two ships had trouble visiting the cities of Kolkata and Howrah, owing to the ongoing anti-CAA protests. Several crew members of the two ships had never visited Kolkata and they were apprehensive on getting to know that trouble had broken out in Kolkata and Howrah due to the protests.
“Most of the crew have never been to Kolkata and wanted to visit the city.Some personnel also wanted to go to Howrah but they were dissuaded owing to the protests since Friday,” said a senior officer. “Most of the crew members were visiting Kolkata for the first time and wanted to go around. But given the protests, they were worried about not being able to return to the ship before their passes expired.”
INS Kirpan is the third ship of the Khukri class of missile corvettes. It was built at the Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers, Kolkata.
According to Commander Charit Kapil, commanding officer of the ship, it underwent refit recently and he is itching to take out INS Kirpan for an operation. The INS Kirpan, despite its age, is a potent platform with four surface-to-surfce missiles with a range of nearly 85 km and a long-range gun. It also carries anti-aircraft guns and shoulder-fired IGLA missiles. The ship is of 1991vintage but carries a punch.
The INS Airawat may not match the panache of INS Kirpan but is a crucial battle platform. It is a Landing Ship Large, used for amphibious operations. “We can carry a helicopter and land personnel at shore with heavy equipment,” said Commander Sunil Sankar, commanding officer.