WITH the war in Sri Lanka entering the final stages, the Indian government has asked the Navy and the Coast Guard to remain on high alert to thwart any bid by LTTE cadres to enter India by way of a sea route, the Times of India reported yesterday.
On Monday Defence Minister A.K. Antony chaired a meeting, attended by Navy Chief Sureesh Mehta, Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and Home Secretary Madhukar Gupta, among others, to review coastal security.
Though the Indian government, in the wake of the 26/11 terror strikes in Mumbai, mooted the idea of constituting an apex federal maritime agency, and placed this matter on the agenda of the Cabinet Committee on Security, the government backtracked on the matter.
But Mr. Antony for his part asked all agencies concerned to “plug gaps'' within "a definite timeframe''.
The meeting on Monday discussed the proposals for "coordinated arrangements'' for the security of offshore platforms, vessel identification system, identity cards for fishermen, the project to install a chain of coastal radars and intelligence-sharing. Under the new maritime security plan, the Navy is now the "designated authority'' responsible for overall maritime security, with both coastal and offshore security under its control.
It will, of course, be assisted by the Coast Guard, state marine police forces and other central and state agencies for the nation's coastal defence. Towards this end, both Navy and Coast Guard are going in for a major augmentation in their force-levels, manpower and intelligence apparatus. (Courtesy: Times of India)
