TN: Terror prowls coastal districts at dawn

CHENNAI: Navy, Coast Guard, port trusts, Central and State intelligence and security agencies and fishermen communities on Wednesday joined hands to put to test the preparedness of the coastal security apparatus in effectively checking any intrusion from the sea into Tamil Nadu. This is the fourth mock drill that is being conducted in the State in the aftermath of the Mumbai terror attack in 2008. Operation Hamla-II, organised by the Coast Guard, kick-started in 13 coastal districts of Tiruvallur,  Kancheepuram, Cuddalore, Villupuram, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur, Thanjavur, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram, Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari at 6 am. “The objective of the exercise is to enhance the coastal security and to be prepared for blocking any kind of intrusion from the sea,” Additional Director-General of Police (Law and Order) S George told Express. “It aims at developing awareness for effective planning and execution to prevent any coastal intrusion,” he said.Echoing him, Inspector-General, Coastal Security Group, S S Krishnamurthy said the objective of the annual exercise was to keep the coastal security apparatus in ready condition. Under the operation, groups of ‘intruders’ drawn from agencies such as the Navy, Coast Guard and commandos will try to enter the State through various points along the coast and attack specific identified targets. “They will carry weapons, but no ammunition in order to prevent any accidents,” the senior police official said. Acting on intelligence inputs, the ‘defenders’ comprising the State security units will intensify surveillance and vigilance and try to prevent any attacks on the targets.“We will alert the fishermen to watch out for any suspicious movement along the coast,” the CSG chief said. “A major role is played by communications, which will instantly pass on any information to the agencies concerned… How fast we respond and act is the essence of the operation,” he pointed out.At the end of the exercise, the Coast Guard will debrief all the agencies and point to the success and shortcomings of the operation.