Soldier killed in Pakistan sniper fire in Rajouri

An Army soldier was killed Saturday in sniper fire by Pakistani troops along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir, a defence spokesman said.

This was the second sniper attack along the LoC in Jammu and Kashmir in as many days. The number of ceasefire violations this year by Pakistan has been the highest in the past eight years.

“At about 0945 hours, unprovoked ceasefire violation was initiated by Pakistan in which one Army soldier was shot by a sniper. He succumbed to injuries,” the spokesman said.

Sources said Indian troops guarding the LoC retaliated to Pakistani firing effectively.

Early next year, India will conduct its first full-spectrum test of coastal security, an operation code-named Exercise Sea Vigil, which will test the response of nine different stakeholders and agencies as it ascertains India’s preparedness to deal with attacks such as the one by terrorists on several locations in Mumbai on November 26, 2008 .

The exercise will test response, reaction time and coordination between agencies to deal with incoming threats simultaneously across both the eastern and western seaboard, a senior official of the ministry of defence said on condition of anonymity.

A senior naval officer says any and every contingency which could crop up in the near future will be tested during this exercise

The exercise will also test reaction time and coordination between the agencies to deal with incoming threats

The Achilles heel of India’s coastal security remains small fishing boats, especially those under 20 meters long

Of the 280,000-odd fishing boats registered across states, 220,000 fall in this category

A decade ago, on November 26, 10 Pakistani terrorists sneaked into Mumbai; 166 people were killed and over 300 injured in the ensuing attacks that lasted three days and involved terrorists from the Lashkar-e-Taiba taking over a luxury hotel.

Then, as it is now, the Achilles heel of India’s coastal security remains small fishing boats, especially those under 20 meters long. Of the 280,000-odd fishing boats registered across states in India, 220,000 fall in this category.

Indian Navy, which will lead the exercise

Directorate General of Shipping, which controls merchant shipping

Directorate General of Lighthouses and Lightships, which tracks incoming and outgoing ships Marine Police of coastal states Indian Coast Guard

Intelligence agencies such as the Intelligence Bureau and the Research and Analysis Wing Customs department

Local police

Fishermen

JAMMU: NEWDELHI:

The 10 Pakistan-based terrorists involved in the 26/11 attacks hijacked Kuber, a small fishing trawler in the high sea, killed the captain, and sailed into Mumbai unchallenged. They then used inflatable rafts to land.

Since then, all merchant and fishing vessels that are above 20 meters long are fitted with “Automatic Identification System ” (AIS), a Global Positioning System-enabled friend or foe identification system.