Post News Network
Kendrapara, May 12: Like every year, Indian Navy, Coast Guard along with all stakeholders of coastal security participated in two-day-long mock exercise ‘Hamala-01 WB-OD’ to assess their preparedness for tackling infiltration of terrorists via sea in Orissa and neighbouring West Bengal sea coasts.
The coastal exercise was kicked off Monday at Paradip and concluded Tuesday evening. Marine Commandos of Indian Navy and Coast Guard besides state police, Marine Police, intelligence officials, Central Industrial Security Force, port officials, customs, fisheries department and fishermen participated in the exercise.
The Kendrapara police deployed three DSPs, nine ASIs, 17 havildar/constables, 15 home guards and two section of APR constables during the mock drill.
“For the first time, an executive magistrate was engaged from Kendrapara in the coastal security exercise,” said Satish Kumar Gajbhiye, the SP of Kendrapara.
“After the 26/11 terrorist attack in Mumbai, coastal security agencies have been organising joint coastal security exercise every year in the state to assess their preparedness to tackle infiltrators from Bangladesh and terrorist attack via sea,” said Gajbhiye.
During the mock exercide, officials were divided into two groups. While one group took the role of attackers, the other defended. Ships, aircrafts, interceptor boats and other
sophisticated boats were deployed for the exercise, Coast Guard sources said.
As a part of the exercise, members of the attacking team entered the sea disguised as terrorists at three places Tuesday.
Six warriors of the attacking team successfully managed to sneak into Balasore district but they were later overpowered. Similarly teams of two sea warriors each managed to enter Paradip and Puri districts. They were chased and overpowered by the defenders, officials said.
Monday, 11 personnel of the attacking group had managed to sneak into Paradip port but they too were nabbed by
the defending group, said a senior police officer.
The mock drill was controlled from the Costal Security operation centre at Paradip as well as from Haldia in West Bengal.The mock drill was centrally co-ordinated by
regional coastal security operation centre( north-east ) at Kolkota.
The coastal security exercise assesses preparedness of coastal security structure of the state while state agencies get an opportunity to learn ways to tackle emergency situations, officials said.
Apart from mounting a strict surveillance on all vital
installations, quick reaction teams, patrol vehicles and manpower were strategically guarding important places. Gun-toting policemen were seen deployed all along the 482-km-long coastline of the state..
