26/11: 40 ships, 10 aircraft patrolling seas daily

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 25

Post 26/11 attacks in 2008, the Central government brought in various reforms to tighten the coastal security.

The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) has conducted more than 300 coastal security exercises and operations in coordination with the coastal state authorities since 2009, said ICG Director-General K Natarajan on the eve of the 13th anniversary of the Mumbai attacks.

Surveillance up

Indian Coast Guard has conducted over 300 exercises since 2009

3.5 tonnes of drugs coming via sea route have been seized in last 2 years

The force now deploys almost 40-44 ships and 10-12 aircraft to maintain surveillance on a daily basis to patrol the seas around India, he said. As a result of its intensive patrolling in coastal areas, the ICG has seized more than 3.5 tonnes of drugs coming through the sea route in the last two years. The Coast Guard is working in close synergy with several agencies.

In November 2008, 10 terrorists had entered India from Pakistan via the sea route and targeted multiple locations, including Taj Hotel, Nariman House and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, in Mumbai. At least 166 persons were killed and over 300 injured in the attacks that lasted four days.