11 held during Operation Sagar Kavach

Operation Sagar Kavach is an annual joint exercise by the Indian Navy, the Indian Coast Guard, Coastal Police, Police Special Branch, Intelligence Bureau, Customs, Department of Port, Department of Fisheries, Director General of Lighthouses and light ships and fishing community across the country to check coastal security mechanism and validate standard operating procedures. Participants of the exercise are divided into two teams. While one tries to infiltrate like terrorists, the other team supposedly intercepts and neutralises infiltration attempts.

The exercise was initiated following Mumbai terror attacks in 2009 when terrorists sneaked into the country through the sea.

In the exercise that began in the city on Wednesday under the purview of Police Commissioner AK Viswanathan, special teams were posted in coastal areas, important offices and at places where people gather in large numbers. Vehicle checking was also tightened. Within hours of the operation, city police personnel managed to arrest 11 ‘terrorists’, who tried to infiltrate into the city.

While Shastri Nagar police surrounded three men who entered Alcot Kuppam through the sea and in the inquiry they were found to be men sent by the Coast Guard. Similarly, Marina police detained three men who tried to enter the DGP office and later were found to be part of the exercise. Kanathur and Neelankarai police too secured two men each and seized a ball-like object from them. Chennai Port police too caught a man trying to enter the port premises. Across the state, more than 45 dummy terrorists were detained.

The exercise will continue till Thursday and police are expected to make more arrests. A top official speaking to DTNext said that there will be a review meeting at the end of the exercise, in which various parameters such as the effectiveness of police in nabbing suspects, cooperation between different departments in securing terrorists and handling of those secured among others to plug the loopholes.