Navy to conduct defense-exercise to test country's preparedness against attacks
What's the story
The Indian Navy in coordination with the Coast Guard and other stakeholders will conduct a two-day defense exercise along the coastline from tomorrow to test the country's preparedness against any attack through the sea route.
Codenamed "Sea Vigil 2019", it's the first exercise on such a large scale.
Multi-agency teams will be deployed in all coastal districts to undertake security-audit of various vulnerable locations.
Details
Teams will be deployed at fish-landing centers, intermediate-ports, operations centers
The teams will be deployed at locations such as fish landing centers, as well as major, minor and intermediate ports, lighthouses, coastal police stations, control rooms, and operations centers, a defense statement said today.
It'll aim to test the country's preparedness to thwart any attempt by anti-national elements to carry out an attack on its territory by infiltrating through the sea route, it said.
Exercises
Simulated attacks on vital installations along coastline will be exercised
"A wide range of contingencies, including simulated attacks on vital installations and assets along the coastline, will be exercised to assess the response, coordination and information sharing between agencies," the statement said.
The exercise will provide an opportunity for the stakeholders to assess the capability and preparedness of individual organizations, identify deficiencies, if any, and address them on priority, it said.
Reason
Exercise will be monitored by Joint Operations Center of Kochi
The exercise is being conducted under the aegis of Commander-in-Chief, Coastal Defense, Southern Naval Command, Kochi and will be monitored closely from the Joint Operations Center which is located in Kochi.
Following the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, both central and state governments have instituted a number of steps to build coastal security capacity and capability of all stakeholders.
Preparations
Preparations for the exercise are on in full swing
"It has been more than 10 years since this (2008 Mumbai) attack and, hence Exercise Sea Vigil, which will see participation by all agencies associated with coastal security, is well-timed," the release said.
Several planning meetings have been held with all participating agencies and preparations for the exercise are on in full swing in Kerala, Mahe and Lakshadweep Islands for the last few weeks.