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Fishermen to be sources of surveillance along coast

     Visakhapatnam: In the wake of the deadly terror attacks in Mumbai and amidst demands for a complete overhaul of the coastal security set up, India's eastern coast's security is all set to use fishermen and fishing crafts as sources of surveillance. Vice Admiral Nirmal Verma, Flag Officer Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, has said that there are over 100, 000 fishing crafts that can be put to use. "On the eastern board, we have over a 100,000 fishing crafts which are registered with the fishing ministries of each of the states and close to 50, 000 are mechanized. Any day 50 per cent of them would be operating at distances from here. So, we actually need to look at them as sources of surveillance," said Vice Admiral Verma. Vice Admiral Verma also said that with the increasing terror threats, there is a need to put in place a multiple sources of checks and with the participation of the fishermen, a wider participation in the security checks would be ensured. India has already boosted coastal security with the Indian Navy and the coast guard carrying out coordination patrols. India has decided to increase security in the country, on its borders and the coastal areas following the Mumbai attacks that killed nearly 200 people. The Mumbai attackers are said to have come to the city by sea from the Pakistani port of Karachi, according to security officials.
- Dec 4, 2008

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