Mock fight off Paradip coast to keep forces on toes - Joint naval exercise Hamla-2 shows might of coastal security in Bay of Bengal Members of the coastal security perform their exercise off Paradip coast.

MANOJ KAR

Members of the coastal security perform their exercise off Paradip coast. Telegraph picture

Paradip, March 15: A mock mid-sea battle was fought off the Paradip coast today as part of a coastal security exercise with the concerned agencies putting up a spirited show of preparedness to counter possible terror strikes besides infiltration and sea-route smuggling.

Named “Hamla-2”, this mock drill was the fourth in the series of such exercises taking place along the 480km porous coastline in the past two years.

“The two-day mock security drill is a coordinated teamwork by naval wing, coast guard, customs, Paradip Port Trust, state marine police and state fisheries department to counter coastal security exigencies. Earlier it was successfully carried out in country’s sensitive coastal territories to reenergise coastal security preparedness,” said officials of Coast Guard, Paradip.

“The Coast Guard, Paradip, district headquarters is the coordinating agency of this security exercise with active participation of other agencies to bolster the sea-route security. The two-day surveillance exercise is covering the coastline extending from Digha to Gopalpur south coast,” said Coast Guard commandant Saroj Kumar Sahu.

“The whole focus of this venture is to inculcate a combative spirit in the agencies involved in coastal security. In case of any eventuality of a sea-route subversive activity, the mock drill would keep them better prepared to face the crisis,” said Sahu.

“The 26/11 Mumbai sea route terror strike was enacted. The anti-national forces penetrated the security ring to perpetrate the Mumbai terror strike while security personnel masquerading as terror groups were intercepted by agile and vigilant coastal security forces,” said a state marine police official.

Naval ships INS Nirvika. INS Sabitri, INS Bibhuti and Coast Guard service ships Braja, Chanda Bibi and Sarojini Naidu apart from four aircraft and sea-worthy vessels took part in the mock drill. All the aggressors were neutralised by the coastal defence force during the exercise.

The exercise that forms part of the Centre’s coastal security plan, intends to improve the coordinating capabilities of dealing with any coastal contingency and exigency.

The joint naval exercise or the Operation Hamla is the fourth of its kind that has got underway along Orissa’s shoreline.

Similar joint naval exercises were held in the state during July 29-30, 2009, October 5-6, 2010 and February 3-4 this year, said Coast Guard sources.

“Emphasis is being given to invigorate the coastal security along the state’s 480km shoreline. The state is armed with over Rs 1,000 crore central grants under the Coastal Security Scheme. With central assistance, 13 new marine police stations, in addition to the existing five are being planned to be set up in the state. At present five marine police stations are in operation at Balramgadgi, Jambu, Paradip, Argipalli and Dharma. These stations are equipped with 15 mechanised vessels including eight latest improvised interceptors to maintain coastal vigil and security,” said nodal police officer, coastal security, Shantanu Kumar Das.

sourced from the telegraph