The state fisheries department has issued warnings to the fishing community not to go fishing near the oil rigs and the offshore defence areas on the 877.97km long Maharashtra coastline.
Amid escalating border tensions, the Indian Navy held a crucial meeting with the fishermen community from Mumbai and Konkan region, state fisheries department, Coastal Police, Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and the Coast Guard with advisory not to go fishing in sensitive areas.
“The high alert with ‘shoot to kill’ instructions on violation of entering prohibited areas was discussed in the high level meeting,” confirmed a senior bureaucrat in the state government coordinating with the security agencies.
In the aftermath of the deadly 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, carried out by 10 heavily armed terrorists who entered the city after hijacking an Indian fishing vessel on the high seas, a survey of fishing boats in Mumbai was ordered, along with verification of GPS devices for identification purposes.
“Credible intelligence has been shared with the state government of some fishing boats from Gujarat seized by Pakistan Maritime Security Agency and the fishermen released on the high seas in a single trawler. The seized fishing vessel might be used to sneak near Mumbai and adjoining areas for launching attacks with rocket launchers,” informed the state official.
The Indian Navy and the coastal police appealed to the fishing community to be their eyes and ears in the Arabian sea to alert the security agencies of any suspicious activities and vessel movements for quick response.
“Real time security alerts and intelligence is being shared with the police, coast guard, Indian Navy and the coast police to swiftly neutralise threats using kinetic and non-kinetic capabilities in line with established Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs),” confirmed another senior police official.
Fishermen have been asked to inform authorities immediately if they spot any such missing boat, he said.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis held a review meeting on internal security with the police, Navy and Coast Guard on Friday and discussed standard operating procedures to be strictly followed adding that “ whatever steps are needed as per the ‘war book’ are being implemented. We are on alert mode.”
