Operation Hamala kicks off on State coast

Operation Hamala kicks off on State coast
Kendrapada

The Indian Navy, Coast Guard along with all the stakeholders on Tuesday embarked upon a two-day-long innovative mock exercise Operation Hamala on encompassing possible infiltration of terrorists both by land and sea in the State’s coast.

The State with a 482 km long coastline is vulnerable to unabated infiltration of Bangladeshi immigrants round the year.

The security exercise aims at assessing preparedness of coastal security structure of the State. The State agencies would get opportunity to utilise the skills of reacting to emergency situations, Coast Guard Commandant Saroj Sahu, the officer In-charge of State Costal Security Operation Centre.

Commandoes of Indian Navy and Coast Guard, besides State police, Marine Police, intelligence, Central Industrial Security Force, port officials, Customs, Fisheries Department and fishermen jointly took part in this exercise, said official sources.

The officials were divided into two groups, while one group were in the attackers, the others were the defenders. State security agencies like police, Marine police customs and the coastal people were in the defender team members.

Navy deployed three ships INS Nirvika, INS Sabitri, INS Bibhuti and Coast Guard deployed three ships Braja, Chanda Bibi and Sarojini Naidu apart from four aircrafts, sophisticated boats of marine police stations , boats were locked in mock fights in the sea under coastal security exercise.

Indian Navy sources informed that during this exercise, which would continue till Wednesday, mock infiltration bid by terrorists from seaward sneaking into the mainland would be simulated to realise the requiring reaction from the stake holders of the coastal security agencies on real time.

The sources said security was stepped up at all coastal districts in the State and in the cities as part of the drill. Police personnel were mobilised as part of the exercise which would help the police assess their strengths and weaknesses while dealing with emergency situations. Apart from mounting a strict surveillance on all vital installations, Quick Reaction Teams, patrol vehicles and manpower were strategically guarding important places. Gun-totting policemen were seen deployed all along the 482-km-long coastline in Odisha.

The coastal districts of Odisha are more prone to attacks from the sea as they house some important defence establishments of the country and world-class monuments like Jagannath and Konark temples. The defence units include 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 besides ports

After the 2008 Mumbai attacks, the Indian Navy and the Indian Coastguard have joined hands to step up coastal security through constant patrolling of the territorial waters.

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