India to launch Joint Patrolling of Palk Bay

Defence Minister sees threat to India's coastal assets
[Tuesday, March 20, 2007 - 11.45 GMT]    

The Indian Coast Guard and Tamil Nadu Police will shortly launch Coast Guard patrols marking the beginnings joint patrolling of the Palk Bay, to carry on
surveillance against  terrorism, drug trafficking and piracy in the region, while the Indian Defence Minister has said that joint patrolling by the navies of India and Sri Lanka has been suggested to keep "trouble-makers" at bay.

"The Hindu" of March 19 reported Indian Defence Minister A. K. Antony telling the media that "the Navy, Coast Guard and personnel of the coastal police stations must act in coordination to thwart attempts to attack our coastal assets."

The Indian Defence Minister was answering questions from the media at Kochi about the terrorist threat to the country from the seas. He was addressing
media persons at the Southern Naval Command at Kochi, after delivering the keynote address at a seminar on "Kerala - Emerging Maritime Issues and Challenges".

Minister Antony also said: "Joint patrolling by the navies of India and Sri Lanka has been suggested, to keep trouble-makers at bay. We already have unmanned aerial vehicles to do surveillance of the coast. Three offshore patrol vessels and more helicopters will be commissioned into the Navy.

In the course of his keynote address the Indian Defence Minister said: "Maritime Terrorism, drug trafficking and piracy were major threats" and that "the Centre and States should cooperate to counter challenges. The task of protecting and furthering India's interests was not that of the Indian Navy alone".

Defence analysts in Sri Lanka are of the view that the Indian Defence Minister's comments indicate the serious view that India is taking about increased LTTE activity in the Palk Bay, the Gulf of Mannar and the Tamil
Nadu coastline. Sri Lanka has already proposed that India and Sri Lanka conduct Joint Patrols to thwart terrorism and piracy in these waters, particularly with regard to LTTE activity.

They said it was significant that the Indian Defence Minister had said the task of protecting and furthering India's interests was not that of the Indian Navy alone. This is similar to the position taken by Sri Lanka with
regard the ensuring security in the Palk Bay and Gulf of Mannar areas, in proposing Joint Patrols by India and Sri Lanka, they said.

The Hindu of March 1 reports that the first batch of personnel from the Coastal Security Group (CSG) of the Tamil Nadu Police will set out on a Coast Guard patrol vessel from Chennai on Monday (19), marking the beginning of joint patrolling in the Palk Bay.

It quotes the Indian Coast Guard's Eastern Region Commander Inspector General Rajendra Singh saying: "Currently there are only a few Tamil speaking personnel on board Coast Guard ships and the presence of the police personnel could be used effectively in patrolling, warning and interception duties".

The Hindu also reports that: "Considering the vital role that intelligence played in checking nefarious activities, the police had intensified foot patrolling in the coastal villages of Nagapattinam, Pudukottai, Ramanathapuram and Kanyakumari districts."

Defence analysts here state that Nagapattinam and Ramanathapuram, and nearby areas, are known locations where recent LTTE activity in Tamil Nadu had been observed. The Hindu reports that a team of police officers had patrolled coastal villages in Ramanathapuram district using hired boats to "activate
and intensify intelligence gathering" by the police.

It is also reported that as part of a long-term strategy, the issue of short-listing landing points on the shore in Ramanathapuram and Nagapattinam districts would have to be considered to ensure a constant vigil of them.

These analysts state that "nefarious activities" is a euphemism often used by the Tamil Nadu Press and officials there with regard to the activities of the LTTE.

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Last Updated Date: March 20, 2007 - 11.45 GMT