Indian Navy prepared to face any challenge on East Coast: Kumar

Bhubaneswar, Nov 4 : The Indian Navy in co-ordination with the Coast Guard and the Marine Police has taken a number of initiatives to strengthen security on the East Coast and is ready to face any challenge, Commanding Officer and Chief of Orissa Coast Com M V S Kumar said here today.

Com Kumar told newspersons here that the Interim Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on Sea is a place of national importance and valuable target for attack. But the ships of the Eastern fleet were constantly monitoring the coast and the Coast Guard and the Marine police had had kept a vigil on every incoming and outgoing ships, he added.

Briefing mediapersons, Com Kumar said since the East Coast was as vulnerable as the West Coast, Id Cards had been issued to villagers staying close to the coast who were trained on how to keep a watch on infiltrators and gather information.

He said a number of motor cycle rallies were organised by the Navy to educate the fishing community about the security risks.

The state government had already set up five marines police stations and planned to set up 12 more in due course of time.

The Coast Guard, which had one centre at Gopalpur, was expanding its strength and planned to have one more centre at Dhamra, he said.

Replying to a question, Com Kumar said the Bangladeshis were infiltrating for fishing and for their own survival. '' So far we had not come across any information about Bangladeshis indulging in anti-national activities,'' he stated.

He said this year the Navy would organise health camps at Banapur, Chhatragarh, Bhubaneswar and Puri, blood donation camps, quiz competitions among the school and college students, inter school sports championships and AIDS awareness camp, band concerts and navy mela to celebrate the navy week.

A sailing expedition to Chilika lake mouth would be held from November 28 to December 2. Boys and Girls from sports and youth services department would be participating in the event along with trainees.

The Indian Naval ships would be berthed at Paradeep port and the general public would be allowed to visit the ship on November 7.

On November 8, the state officials, important dignitaries would be taken on board ship to witness live demonstration of fire power, air operations and missile launching exercises.

--UNI

(c) 2009 Published with permission from United News of India.
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