Indian Navy Starts Security Exercise ‘Sagar Kavach’ Off Odisha’s Balasore Coast

Bhubaneswar: As part of its coastal security measures, the Indian Navy along with other government agencies started a two-day exercise, ‘Sagar Kavach I’, at Talasari-Udaypur coast of Odisha’s Balasore on Wednesday.

Besides Indian Navy, Marine Police, Coast Guard, Forest, Fisheries and Intelligence departments participated in the mock drill along the coast.

The personnel of the agencies were split into two groups – Blue team and Red team. The Red team simulated the act of terrorists, who infiltrate into the coastal areas through the sea routes and try to plant bombs or other explosives in crowded or strategic locations. The Blue team in close coordination with all coastal security stakeholders launched a counter offensive to foil the attempt of the infiltrated ultras.

The personnel also checked fishing vessels and trawlers and those not having prescribed colours are not allowed to venture into the sea during the exercise.

The Sagar Kavach has been conducted twice in a year since the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai. It aims at strengthening surveillance, detection and identification of enemy forces in the sea, developing marine fishing community as ‘eyes and ears’ of security agencies and revalidating the communication and coastal security measures in place. The local residents also play an important role in the exercise.

The exercise tests the efficacy of all agencies involved in ensuring coastal security and the level of coordination among them.