How 26/11 brought sea change in maritime security

[CONNAN]

The Pakistani boat that exploded off Gujarat on New Year's Eve was on the radar of India's principal technical intelligence agency right after it left the shores of Karachi, highlighting the country's enhanced maritime security since the 26/11 attacks, experts said.

While Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists managed to reach within eight kilometres of Mumbai in 2008 after hijacking an Indian fishing vessel and used an inflatable speedboat to land in the city, in a thrilling high-sea chase on Wednesday night, Coast Guard ships and aircraft intercepted the suspicious fishing boat about 370 kilometres from Indian shores.

"We have learnt a lot since 26/11. The speed with which the Coast Guard reacted is commendable," defence expert Rear Admiral Raja Menon told a news organisation.

Ajmal Kasab and his nine companions commandeered the fishing vessel MV Kuber, incidentally off Gujarat's coast, killed four crewmembers and forced the boat's captain to navigate them to Mumbai before slitting his throat. They had intended to scupper the trawler after launching their dinghy to make the final journey, but left the vital evidence afloat, officials said.

Gujarat has a porous 1,660-km long coastal area considered sensitive because of its proximity to Pakistan. Indian marine agencies have intercepted several Pakistani boats, mostly fishing vessels, from Sir Creek.

Following the Mumbai attacks, the Indian government assigned the Coast Guard the additional responsibility of patrolling the territorial waters as well as coordinating between central and state security agencies.

A defence ministry statement said as per intelligence inputs received on December 31, a fishing boat from Keti Bunder was planning some illegal transaction in the Arabian Sea.

Three days before the sixth anniversary of the Mumbai attacks, defence minister Manohar Parrikar had said a zero-tolerance policy on errors was required to avoid such incidents in the future and guarantee India's coastal security.

How 26/11 brought sea change in maritime security - Hindustan Times

 

[Dr Gupta]

We also should learn to have a media blackout! rather than stupid NDTV telling the gunman where the hostages are located. Problem is terrorist are always evolving they saw a weakness India's coastal defence and now they will be working on some other plot and try to expose another weakness.

 

[third eye]

There is a huge disconnect between the title & contents of the article.

 

[nair]

There might be a sea change in maritime security, But there is "0" change in the attitude of our agencies and media groups........ Why would they want to detail every bloody operation conducted?????? What are they going to achieve by publicizing such an event??? Why they want to compromise their capacities by publicizing????? There are several such agencies around the world, how many tell the outside world about their operations and details of it????

 

[Tshering22]

There might be a sea change in maritime security, But there is "0" change in the attitude of our agencies and media groups........ Why would they want to detail every bloody operation conducted?????? What are they going to achieve by publicizing such an event??? Why they want to compromise their capacities by publicizing????? There are several such agencies around the world, how many tell the outside world about their operations and details of it????

We need a bill that restricts the 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH & INFORMATION' of the media, in cases that are of importance to national security and safety.

Unless and until we clamp on them (and also investigate whether they are involved with terror groups secretly), this will continue.

 

[nair]

We need a bill that restricts the 'FREEDOM OF SPEECH & INFORMATION' of the media, in cases that are of importance to national security and safety.

Unless and until we clamp on them (and also investigate whether they are involved with terror groups secretly), this will continue.

That is not the solution if you ask me, First we should stop the "Sources" from disclosing such infos......... They are paid to protect this nation.......

 

[Tshering22]

That is not the solution if you ask me, First we should stop the "Sources" from disclosing such infos......... They are paid to protect this nation.......

A lot of that news is not true as well. After all, these 'sources' being anonymous cannot prove that they were involved.

So media can use this as a shield to blow things out of proportion.

Unless and until media, especially the english-news channels and papers are restricted, nothing will happen.

An out-of-control media is also as dangerous as a state-controlled media.

There has to be an even balance between the two sides.

 

[ranjeet]

There might be a sea change in maritime security, But there is "0" change in the attitude of our agencies and media groups........ Why would they want to detail every bloody operation conducted?????? What are they going to achieve by publicizing such an event??? Why they want to compromise their capacities by publicizing????? There are several such agencies around the world, how many tell the outside world about their operations and details of it????

Agencies just gave out a press release but media went bonkers.