Bhograi: With the 84 km long coastline in Balasore being vulnerable to infiltration and possibilities of terrorist attacks, personnel of marine police stations in the district in collaboration with the Indian Coast Guard and Navy launched a 24-hour coastal exercise named Sagar Kavach. This exercise has come in the backdrop of marine police stations in this coastal district being handicapped by staff and equipment.
After intelligence agencies pressed the panic button about possibilities of ultra groups carrying out terror, the exercise has been undertaken to enhance synergy between various stake-holders through sharing of information and resources of various agencies involved in the field of coastal security.
The joint exercise helps to assess the preparedness of all agencies towards dealing with the threat through the sea route.
Notably, the 481-km coastline of Odisha from Digha to Gopalpur has 18 marine police stations. Such police stations function at Talsari, Bahabalpur and Balaramgadi.
All the three police stations reportedly lack necessary staff and weaponry for coastal security.
Several fishing jetties are there between Chandbali in Bhadrak and Balasore. Thousands of fishermen depend on fishing in the coast.
Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and Navy launched the exercise from Wednesday and this will go on till Thursday at Udaypur, Talsari, Ransighpur, Kirtania coast.
The exercise has been assessing effectiveness of the fishing community in the coast that serves as ‘eyes and ears’ for early warnings from a seaward threat.
Wednesday, the joint exercise tested intelligence and infiltration alertness and preparedness of stakeholders, including people. It provided all concerned stakeholders an opportunity to fine-tune standard operating procedures and test new operation concepts for coastal security. A platoon of police personnel was deployed in Chandaneswar area.