Sagar Kavach security drill gets under way in coastal districts in central zone

A two-day security drill christened ‘Sagar Kavach’ got under way in the coastal districts of Pudukottai, Nagapattinam, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur and Tiruvarur districts in the central zone on Thursday with the objective of assessing the level of preparedness and alertness of the stakeholders involved in coastal security to thwart intrusion of terrorists through the sea route.  This is the second time that this exercise is being organised this year after June. 

The coastal security exercise is being carried out involving the respective district police, the Coastal Security Group of the State police, the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, Fisheries department and other stakeholders.  The drill commenced in the early hours on Thursday as part of which surveillance was stepped up along the coastal belt in the central zone with police teams conducting vehicle check at the respective check posts.

An alert was sounded to the fishermen to convey information about the movement of suspicious persons in their respective coastal villages to the Coastal Security Group personnel. The fishermen were advised to carry their identity cards and licence of their boats and desist from taking any outsiders in their boats.

Coastal Security Group personnel carried out patrolling in the sea using their boats and those used by the fishermen while personnel of the respective district police carried out detailed checks of vehicles passing through the check posts.  A few personnel disguised as “terrorists” with dummy arms in boxes were “secured” by the Coastal Security Group personnel at a couple of places in Nagapattinam district, said the sources. The coastal security drill concludes on Friday evening.