Indian Navy begins training coastal patrol force
January 11th, 2010 - 4:54 pm ICT by IANSNew Delhi, Jan 11 (IANS) The Indian Navy Monday began training the first batch of the Sagar Prahari Bal (SPB) coastal patrol force formed in the aftermath of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks to prevent their recurrence, an official said.
“The training for the first batch commenced today (Monday) at the Naval Gunnery School INS Dronacharya (at Kochi),” an Indian Navy spokesperson said.
The first batch will comprise of 15 officers and 100 men. The three-week course would be conducted every six months.
The force will eventually have a strength of 120 officers and 1,000 men and be equipped with 80 Fast Interception Craft (FIC). Its charter of duties include coastal protection, seaward security of coastal and offshore naval assets, assistance to civil agencies and ensuring compliance of maritime regulations.
SPB personnel will be drawn from within the Indian Navy and will serve for a fixed tenure. The force will maintain a youthful profile and will undergo specialized training in asymmetric warfare and low intensity maritime operations.
Defence Minister A.K. Antony had last February announced the setting up of the force, along with a slew of measures to secure the country’s 7,516 km-long coastline.
The Nov 26-29, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks had exposed the vast coastline as the country’s Achilles heel after 10 armed terrorists sneaked into the city from the sea and went on a killing spree that left 166 people, including 26 foreigners, dead.
- India signs Rs.300-cr deal for interceptor boats - Oct 17, 2011
- Costal security force to be operational in two years: Navy - Dec 01, 2009
- India's coastal security plan yet to take off (Three years after 26/11) - Nov 25, 2011
- Top naval official stress on need to enhance coastal security - Dec 04, 2009
- All coastal villages tapped after 26/11, says navy chief - Feb 05, 2010
- Coast Guard commissions new station in Gujarat - May 19, 2011
- Top naval commanders review coastal security, anti-piracy operations - May 24, 2011
- Expansion plans of Indian Navy on Navy Day - Dec 04, 2009
- To prevent another 26/11, all coastal villages visited by maritime agencies: Admiral Verma - Feb 05, 2010
- Bullet from his pistol kills Indian rear admiral (Fourth Lead, with Images) - Jul 07, 2010
- Op Geronimo aftermath: India conducts security review - May 12, 2011
- Coast Guard to be largest water protection force by 2018 - Sep 27, 2011
- Coastal security India's major focus: PM - Feb 07, 2010
- Post Mumbai, Indian Navy to study foreign practices for coastal security - Jun 10, 2009
- 80 interceptor boats for Indian Navy - Jun 30, 2011
Tags: achilles heel, antony, asymmetric warfare, coastal patrol, coastal protection, defence minister, foreigners, gunnery school, indian navy, interception, killing spree, maritime operations, maritime regulations, recurrence, sagar, slew, spb, specialized training, spokesperson, terror attacks