New Delhi: Indian Navy on Friday completed a
three-day exercise off the coast of Vishakhapatnam to plug any
possible loopholes in its coastal-security network in the post
26/11 scenario.
"The exercise has further strengthened our coastal
security preparedness. The basic purpose of the exercise was
to check on-ground coordination between all the stake holders
of maritime and coastal security network," Navy officials said
here.
During the exercise, naval vessels conducted manoeuvres
and drills to coordinate efforts of agencies involved in
maritime security to keep an eye over maritime routes and
suspicious fishing vessels.
These vessels also practised their response to any 26/11
type attack on coastal cities. The exercise was coordinated by
the Joint Operations Centre headed by the Navy there.
On Wednesday, Defence Minister A K Antony while
addressing the Naval Commanders Conference here, had asked the
Navy to conduct regular drills and exercises to plug all the
loopholes in maritime and coastal security network.
"Several security exercises and awareness drives have
been conducted by the Navy, Coast Guard, Marine police of
coastal states to sensitise the fishing community about
threats from the sea. Such exercises must be replicated as
frequently as possible," Antony had said.
Meanwhile, addressing the conference today, Admiral
Nirmal Verma highlighted the role of Indian Navy in the Indian
Ocean Region (IOR).
"Navy has continued to maintain and sustain a high
operational tempo while dealing with a large number of tasks
and missions, including anti-piracy and coastal security
operations," he said.
Verma said these responsibilities are in addition to the
traditional missions and tasks performed by the Navy which
includes overseas deployments and bilateral exercises-cum-
surveillance missions in the IOR.
He told the Naval commanders that the primary challenge
confronting the Navy was to balance its resources, build human
capital and a requisite strategy so as to be responsive to the
full spectrum of operations.
PTI
