Kozhikode: A 36-hour-long sea vigil (Sagar Kavach), a joint operation of the Indian Coast Guard, Indian Navy, coastal police and coastal Jagrata Samitis began along the Kerala coast at 8am on Tuesday.
The joint initiative, led by the Coast Guard, is aimed at providing smooth security cover along the coast by all security agencies concerned.
Coastal security was beefed up after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack in which terrorists from Pakistan sneaked into the country on sea route and killed at least 174 people.
All coastal security agencies would be taking part in the exercise and mock drills are also part of the vigil, said the officials. The Kadalora Jagratha Samitis (informal army of fishermen) are also part of the exercise.
Incidentally, human trafficking was reported recently from Munambam coast in Ernakulam with around 40 people suspected to have left the Kerala shores for Australia seeking illegal migration. However, top officials in the Indian Navy said the ongoing exercise is not directly connected to the Munambam issue.
“All the Indian states with sea boundary are involved in the vigil programme. There are many lapses in our security system. There is no clear data on the number of fishermen or boats in a particular beach. This is crucial for keeping vigil on the coast. This situation should change for proper security,” said an official, who doesn't want to reveal his name.
