Journalist hints weapon data present in leaked Scorpene documents

Hours after Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar said on Friday that the leaked information on Scorpene submarines does not contain weapon data, Australian journalist Cameron Stewart, who broke the story, hinted at its presence in the leaked documents.

"When I say we will release a leaked document on Scorpene weapons systems, they will of course be redacted by us of sensitive information (sic)," Steward said in a series of tweets.

"India's defence minister is wrong to say leaked Scorpene docs do not include weapons info. will release (self-censored) weapons doc Monday."

In the third tweet, he said The Australian "has not and will not" put on web any document that would "harm India's national security".

Parrikar had earlier on Friday said the leaked documents do not contain information on the weapons systems.

"Weapon system agreements are with weapon manufacturers and they are separate agreements." he said.

Sensitive data related to India's Scorpene submarines has been leaked from French shipbuilder DCNS, which designed the submarine, comprising documents running over 22,400 pages, according to The Australian.

Navy officials had on Wednesday too downplayed the leak, stating that there was "nothing to get alarmed" about, as the specifications in the documents will not be same as in the submarine to be finally manufactured.

--IANS

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