Coastal security put on highest level of alert

MUMBAI: As President Obama stepped onto Indian soil, security along and off Mumbai coast went on full alert, the sentinels aware that the defence that was breached by 26/11 terrorists must not falter.

The Coast Guard, the Coastal Police and the Navy intensified deployment and patrolling along the coast and according to Navy sources coastal security was stepped up to the highest possible levels. While the Navy increased the number of fast attack crafts and marine commandos on patrol, Coast Guard and Coastal Police were in full deployment mode.

Sources said the coastal security posturing is at the highest level of alert, matching the posture just after the 26/11 attacks. ''On high seas, Navy is maintaining a higher than usual state of alert but we have not increased
the number of ships in the outer sea,'' a senior navy officer said.

While coastal security is a joint effort of the Navy, Coast Guard and Coastal Police, security of high seas is exclusive responsibility of the Navy.

An American amphibious assault ship, USS Peleliu, is also in international waters off Mumbai. Officially the ship has come to deliver helicopters for the presidential visit, but it also carries over 3,000 soldiers and several attack helicopters.

As part of the stepped up coastal security, Navy has increased deployment of fast attack crafts and smaller surveillance ships in the seas off Taj and Trident hotels, while the Coast Guard has deployed five of its ships. The Navy has also deployed four speedboats of marine commandos for patrolling the shorelines.

Besides, 10 helicopters of the navy and coast guard are maintaining a hawkeye survellience on the sea, a senior naval officer said.