Not much learnt from 26/11 attack as drill exposes coastal security flaws

[Vishwarupa]

MUMBAI: A 36-hour drill to test Mumbai's coastal security showed that not much has been learnt from 26/11.

Despite a strong security cordon across the city's coastline during Operation Sagar Kavach, dummy 'intruders' managed to evade the cops at three points, though police nabbed them at five places in the city.

The Indian Navy, Coast Guard and CISF, along with the Mumbai and state police forces, conducted the multiagency maritime security exercise off the Mumbai coast. During the operation from 6am on Tuesday to 6pm on Wednesday, police stations with a coastal jurisdiction were asked to catch 'intruders' who tried to enter the city through boats.

Police boats were deployed off the Arabian Sea, local fishermen were roped in and heavy nakabandi was enforced at various places.

At several places like the Gateway of India, Bandstand and popular beaches, police turned away visitors or asked them not to venture deep in the water or the rocks.

Senior police inspectors stayed put at their respective police stations during the operation to closely monitor the situation.

Deputy commissioner of police Nisar Tamboli stated that they successfully caught 'intruders' at five places, including Cuffe Parade, Sassoon Dock, Sewri and Bandra. The police declined to provide details of places from where the 'intruders' had entered.

Senior Coast Guard officers too said that they cannot share operational details, adding they will send their report to the state police chief afterwards.

Despite the strong security presence, sources said that 'intruders' successfully passed by the Bandra-Worli sea link in a boat and stayed in the area for a while before landing at the Mahim Causeway. Police allegedly failed to notice their presence throughout. However, Tamboli said, "It was not an issue of success or failure, but just an exercise to test our coordination with other agencies."

A lifeguard at a beach said, "We continuously monitored the coastline along with the police for 36 hours. Some hotels on the beach were asked not to entertain guests and visitors were asked to clear the beach after sunset."

In its recent report, the Comptroller and Auditor General of India had mentioned the poor coastal security at Andhra Pradesh, stating that many coastal police stations in that state were almost defunct with inadequate arrangements for maintenance of boats, lack of jetties, skilled manpower and training apparatus.

Times View

This is a depressingly familiar story. In the immediate aftermath of a horrific incident like 26/11, pious promises are made about how such a thing will never be allowed to happen again, but soon callous neglect sets in.

Despite having remained for decades as one of the nations worst affected by terror attacks, we simply do not learn our lessons.

This will change only when we fix individual responsibility for implementing the promises and then hold people accountable.

We are all too ready to demand that heads roll for corrupt actions, but unless inaction too is punished, the chalta hai mindset will continue to reign.
Not much learnt from 26/11 attack as drill exposes coastal security flaws - The Economic Times

 

[W.G.Ewald]

Despite the strong security presence, sources said that 'intruders' successfully passed by the Bandra-Worli sea link in a boat and stayed in the area for a while before landing at the Mahim Causeway. Police allegedly failed to notice their presence throughout. However, Tamboli said, "It was not an issue of success or failure, but just an exercise to test our coordination with other agencies."

Maybe India needs a large body of civilian volunteer coastwatchers.