India readies sea might to tackle another 26/11

Navy presses even its bruised boats into action; cops fan out on coast after strong intelligence alert.

India readies sea might to tackle another 26/11

Navy presses even its bruised boats into action; cops fan out on coast after strong intelligence alert.

Pakistan-based Jihadi terror groups including the LeT are making concerted efforts to organise terror attacks in Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa.

LeT is likely to target iconic institutions, tourist locations and industrial locations along the coast.

They want to create panic and project India as an unsafe location for tourists and foreign investors.

Excerpts from an intelligence report sent to the Navy, Coast Guard, Maharashtra and Goa police.

Following the report received on June 26, security forces along the coast of Gujarat, Maharashtra and Goa have been put on high alert. The obvious fear a repeat of 26/11 using the western seafront.

More than 14 Coast Guard and 26 naval warships have been deployed to patrol the coast from Gujarat to Goa.

Sources said that some of the warships, which were docked for minor repairs were readied for sailing at short notice.

Security forces have already completed a 'rasta roko' and rahband (exercise for hunting down LeT or enemy vessels at sea) last month.

Security beefed up

In Maharashtra, surveillance and security have been beefed up along the coastal stretches of Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg districts. The coastal police and customs officials are also on high alert.

In Goa, the superintendent of police has asked his men not only to intensify patrolling along the coastal areas, but also sensitise fishermen in the coastal villages about the threat.

Insiders said the fishing community had been taken into confidence and had been asked to look out for suspicious boats along the virtually unguarded beaches.

Previous reports have indicated that several sleeper groups carried out a recce of some of the uninhabited islands in Goa and befriended several fishermen over the past two years. It appears some luxury hotels are on the hit list of terrorists.

Sources added that the estuary and rivers used by barges for transporting iron ore could be used by terrorists to carry out attacks.

No threat, says Navy

However, Indian Navy spokesperson Captain Manoharan Nambair refused to divulge details and said he did not have any inputs on the naval build-up or intelligence inputs.

The intelligence report, a copy of which is with MiD DAY, also warned that LeT had directed their Indian counterparts to identify locations along the coastal areas to establish hideouts and procure mechanised boats to be used for transportation of arms and ammunition.

Home minister's warning

On July 1, Union Home Minister P Chidambaramu00a0 said another sea-borne terror attack from the west coast was a possibility.

He said intelligence agencies had informed about such a possibility from the west coast and that the governments of Gujarat, Goa and Maharashtra had beenu00a0 told to take additional precautions.

Coastal pat-rolling would be stepped up.