Industry Odisha Bureau, Sept 16: A joint coastal security exercise, Sagar Kavach, began along the Odisha and West Bengal coasts on Wednesday to assess preparedness against possible terrorist infiltration through waterways. Security agencies from both states are participating in the mock drill, which covers operations from the sea to coastal land.
The exercise aims to identify security gaps, improve coordination and strengthen the response to potential threats throughout the sea route. Personnel are conducting surveillance and patrols across coastal areas as part of the drill.
This is the second joint Sagar Kavach exercise of the year. The drills are conducted twice annually to strengthen coastal security.
Around 18 major Central and state government agencies are taking part in the exercise. These include the Indian Navy, Indian Coast Guard, Marine Police, CISF, Forest Department, Fisheries Department and Customs.
The district administration, Paradip Port and several industrial establishments are also participating. The exercise is designed to assess inter-agency coordination and preparedness during a coastal security emergency.
Security personnel have been divided into Red and Blue teams. The Red Team acts as infiltrators and attempts to enter coastal land from the sea through waterways. It also simulates efforts to hide in cities and slums and place mock explosives at crowded or sensitive locations.
The Blue Team is responsible for preventing infiltration through intensive patrolling across sea and land areas. It works to identify and track Red Team members during the drill.
The exercise will help assess the ability of participating agencies to detect and respond to possible security threats along the Odisha coast.
