India's Coast Guard displays it prowess

Mumbai, Nov 6 : Indian Coast Guard ships conducted an exercise off Mumbai coast on Thursday.

The exercise is aimed to keep the force battle-ready in its Herculean task of patrolling India's long coast.

Officials said the force was ready with the latest equipment and vessels to combat any terror threat.

"I think that the Coast Guard was always being augmented. You must realise that Coast Guard is only 30 years old. It takes time to build a marine service and the government has given support. All the governments have given support to the Coast Guard from zero ships today we have 50 ships and 50 aircraft and 30 boats and it all came before 26/11 last year because of new threats that we have seen the pace of enhancing the strength has increased that is what has happened," said Anil Chopra, Director General, Indian Coast Guard.

India has increased security within the country and on its borders in the wake of the deadly attacks in Mumbai last November.

India has already boosted coastal security with the Indian Navy and the coast guard carrying out coordination patrols.

--ANI