Navy to train coastal police in combating terrorism

Sources say defence establishment has agreed to proposal

MUMBAI: In an attempt to ensure that they are battle ready for a 26/11-type terror attack, the Mumbai police are now preparing a plan to put nearly 200 of its officers and constables from the Port Zone through commando training from the Indian Navy.

Sources in the Mumbai police said a list of constables who were under 30-years and fit, and were willing to take on the challenging assignment, was being prepared by senior officials. The plan is to have a quick response team (QRT) for the coastal police, sources said.

According to the proposal, the Port Zone wants at least two commandos on its patrol boat at any given time. Sources said that even if the Mumbai police received basic training from the Navy, it would give them a major boost in the fight against terrorism.

Sources said the defence establishment has given a verbal consent to the proposal and, after completing the formalities of the personnel to be trained and other details, a formal proposal would be sent to the Navy for its consent.

Coastal policing has become important in the city after the 10 Pakistani terrorists who attacked the city in 2008 entered Mumbai by sea.

For the past few years, the Mumbai police, along with the Navy and the Coast Guard, have been practising anti-terror operations through a six-month ‘Sagar Kavach’ programme, which helps the police sharpen their skills in the seas.

At present, there is no fixed structure for training of coastal police in the city, and from time to time defence establishments, namely the Indian Navy and Coast Guard, extend help to the police to train its staff.

From swimming and sailing in the sea to firing from boats, police are given all sorts of training.

Additional commissioner of police (south region) Krishna Prakash told HT that, every month, nearly 50 police personnel get training from the Navy or the Coast Guard at various levels.

The Maharashtra police planned to open an academy for the training of coastal police at Alibaug, but the plan got stuck in red tape.

Recently, the government identified three spots for setting up such training academies for the police.