KOCHI: The Coast Guard will be holding a coastal security exercise, Sagar Kavach, from December 15 to 17 along Kerala and Lakshadweep islands. The half-yearly exercise aims at checking coastal security mechanism and validating standard operating procedures. Along with the CG, other agencies such as navy, coastal police, police special branch, IB, customs, departments of ports and fisheries and director general of lighthouses and lightships will also be part of the event.
Various organisations in the fishing sector are also cooperating with the security exercise. Participants of the mock drill are divided into two teams named attack (red) and defence (blue). The attack team will act as terrorists attempting to infiltrate into the coastal area while the defence team establishes coastal security surveillance to intercept and neutralise them.
Over a period, the conduct of Sagar Kavach has synergized the efforts of all the Central and state stakeholders towards effective coastal security, according to CG officials. The fishers and fishing vessels have been asked to inform about the presence of any unidentified or suspected ships or boats in the sea during the two-day security exercise. Such instances, if any, should be promptly reported to the coast guard, navy or coastal police, it has been instructed.
