Top naval official stress on need to enhance coastal security

Kochi, Dec 4 (ANI): Vice Admiral, KN Sushil, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Southern Naval Command, has said there is a need to enhance coastal security through upgraded surveillance capabilities.

Talking to reporters here on Thursday, Admiral Sushil said: "We are now trying to increase our round-the-clock surveillance capabilities. We have INS Garuda that has got full set of cameras and electronic surveillance systems. We are now going to set this whole thing up along this waterfront. In addition we have to interact with other agencies like police, customs and so on to... see, people like this come in and we have better coordination with intelligence agencies."

INS Garuda located at Kochi is the training hub for naval aviation and is home to a number of naval air squadrons.

The Cabinet Committee on Security had recently approved the formation of the 'Sagar Prahari Bal' (SPB), a new naval force, formed to protect coastlines and naval bases of India.

The training of over 1,000 officers and sailors of the Indian Navy forming part of SPB will commence their three-week training from January 11 at Kochi.

India has raised coastal security in coastal areas following last year's Mumbai terror attacks. (ANI)