The presence of 12 mysterious barges on Wednesday along the picturesque Srivardhan coastline, about 200 kilometres from Mumbai, has the intelligence agencies worried. It is not clear if the vessels are carrying contraband or arms.

Villagers informed the Coast Guard operation room of a huge barge and 11 other smaller ones visible eight miles off the coast. Srivardhan and the adjoining Dighi coast had witnessed large-scale landing of arms and RDX prior to the 1993 serial blasts in Mumbai.

Pratap Dighavkar, superintendent of police, said, "We have informed the Navy and the Coast Guard to intercept the vessel as the police cannot venture out into the sea.'' Two Indian coast guard offshore patrol vessels slipped out to intercept the barges. The names of these ships have been withheld for security reasons.

The presence of these barges is significant as the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), India's nuclear powerhouse, is within striking range of marine militants. Intelligence reports indicate that more than 500 terrorists, who have received navigational training in Pakistan, are planning to infiltrate into the country posing as fishermen.

Police have evidence that the Pakistan Navy, in association with the ISI, has trained Lashar-e-Taiba terrorists to target sensitive places in Mumbai.

Pak Navy training

Pakistan Navy is imparting 12 to 18-month courses in three phases to these terrorists. In the first phase, they are taught to swim. The second phase includes handling large boats, laying mines in coastal zones and planting bombs under dams, bridges and ships.

The final phase relates to training in navigational techniques, rescue operations, surveillance methods, concealment of explosives and underwater attack on enemy targets and coastal vessels.