Terror alert along Odisha coastline
The Odisha Government has sounded high alert on the State’s long coastline in view of the terror threat looming large.
The 480-km coastline houses some important defence establishments of the country and monuments including the Jagannath Temple in Puri, the Sun Temple at Konark, Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, Proof and Experimental Establishment (PXE) and Military Engineering Services (MES) at Chandipur, Air Defence College at Gopalpur and Defence Radar Centres at Dhamra, Mahakalapada, Chandrabhaga and Gopalpur.
“The Indian Coast Guard personnel have stepped up the security on the seawater by intensifying sea surveillance after getting warning about possible infiltration by the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Tayyeba (LeT) militants into the Odisha coast via sea route,” said Coast Guard DIG KPS Raghavanshi at Paradip.
To mitigate possible threat of cross border activities and the intrusion of LeT militants in Odisha coast, our Coast Guard ships are monitoring round the clock along the coast area. We have also entrusted helicopters to guard the coast, added a senior officer of the Coast Guard.
The fishery department and marine police have also alerted the marine fishermen and coastal people and asked them to keep vigil on the Bay of Bengal. If the suspected ships and found then would informed the security agencies, said official sources.
Though all necessary measures have been taken by the coastal security agencies, but the Odisha coast, especially from Dhamara to Paradeep, is vulnerable. Even as 26/11 terrorist attack on Mumbai was an eye opener for the State Government to enhance coastal security at several vulnerable points of the coast, but the State machineries, except setting up marine police, have failed to any thing substantial. The coasts passing along Kendrapada to Jagatisinghpur has been quite susceptible to illegal influx of foreign nationals.
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