Tamil Nadu   

Navy, Coast Guard intensify patrolling

C. Jaishankar

Forward observation point revived at Arichamunai after LTTE attack

HIGH ALERT: An interceptor craft of the Coast Guard patrolling off Palk Bay, following the air strike by LTTE in Sri Lanka. — Photo: C. Jaishankar

RAMANATHAPURAM: Within hours of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's air strike at the main military base of the Sri Lanka Air Force, the Indian Navy re-established a Forward Observation Point (FOP) at the Sangam point (the confluence point) at Arichamunai, one of the closest points to Talaimannar in Sri Lanka.

The Navy also adopted the 24-hour duty schedule.

The Navy and Coast Guard have intensified patrolling along the International Maritime Boundary Line. Twelve marine commandos have been deputed at the FOP in Arichamunai, where there is no human habitation.

Link revived

The FOP has started functioning and the communication link has also been revived. Several interceptor crafts and speedboats have been sent to the point, also a prominent place for refugee landing. Navy personnel have been instructed to carry company-level weapons, including medium machine guns (MMG). Night vision binoculars have been provided to marine commandos. "We have alerted all our resources. We are closely monitoring the situation following Monday's attack in Sri Lanka. The frequency of patrolling has been increased in both the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay. Round-the-clock patrolling has been ordered at all strategic locations," Commander S. Mukherji, Area Commander, South, told The Hindu on Tuesday.

He said strangers would be questioned. Special attention would be paid to the uninhabited islands of the Gulf of Mannar.

More vessels deployed

Besides shallow water patrolling on interceptor crafts, speedboats and mechanised trawlers, two state-of-art ships of the Navy and the Coast Guard were patrolling the deep waters of the Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.

"All our resources including `Habba Khautun,' a Coast Guard ship from Chennai, have been put into operation. Vigil has been stepped up along the coast," said Commandant S.K. Chaudhary, Station Commander, Coast Guard, Mandapam.

As part of the increased security in the region, air surveillance has also been stepped up. The surveillance aircraft of the Naval Air Station at Uchipuli conducted several sorties on Tuesday over Gulf of Mannar and Palk Bay.

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