'Be eyes and ears for coastal security', Maharashtra issues directives to fishermen amid India-Pakistan tensions

The directives were issued after a meeting with senior Indian Navy officials regarding enhancing coastal surveillance. Representational Pic/File

The Maharashtra government on Friday issued "security directives" to fishermen operating off the Palghar coast near Mumbai and asked them to 'be eyes and ears for coastal security amid the ongoing India-Pakistan tensions, reported the PTI.

The state has asked the fishermen to be vigilant to keep the country's maritime border safe amid ongoing Indo-Pak conflict, an official said, according to the PTI.

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The directives were issued after a meeting with senior Indian Navy officials regarding enhancing coastal surveillance, he told PTI.

The state government is also trying to ensue that most fishing boats are equipped with transponders so that their locations can be tracked.

Authorities have identified two locations near the Palghar coast -- which lies north of Mumbai -- where fishermen routinely gather, and asked them not to assemble there, the government official said, the news agency reported.

"We have also urged fishermen to work as eyes and ears for naval security and alert authorities about any suspicious activity at sea," he said.

The Pakistani terrorists who attacked Mumbai in November 2008 had hijacked an Indian fishing boat and used it to enter the country's waters without raising suspicion.

Even today, several fishing boats from Palghar district in Maharashtra are in the possession of Pakistani maritime authorities after they were seized for allegedly entering into that country's waters, and such boats can be misused, the official said, reported the PTI.

Fishermen have been asked to inform authorities immediately if they spot any such missing boat, he said, the news agency reported.

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the police, Coast Guard and Indian Navy are on alert mode in the state, and all Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) are being followed.

Talking to reporters in Mumbai, CM Fadnavis said a review meeting to take stock of the state's internal security will be held later in the day.

CM Fadnavis was responding to a query on the steps being taken to protect the state's coastline, a day after Pakistan's attempts to target Indian military installations were repelled.

"Police, Navy and Coast Guard are on alert mode. Regular exercises are being undertaken, and whatever steps are needed to be taken as per the 'war book' are being taken care of. A review meeting on internal security will be convened later in the day. We are on alert mode," he said, reported the PTI.

(with PTI inputs)