In the wake of Pahalgam terror, security agencies intensify inspection in Karwar

Coastal Security Police inspecting a ship in Karwar on Wednesday, as part intensified vigilance in the region.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Officers of various security agencies are conducting a special operation in coastal areas of the State in the aftermath of the terror attack at Pahalgam in Kashmir.

Officers of the Karnataka Coastal Security Police (CSP) and Uttara Kannada Police and other agencies are visiting ships and boats on the coast of Karwar and other towns and villages.

The inspection visits have intensified in the last few days. A detailed inspection was held on Wednesday and Thursday. Security has been tightened along the coast and additional vigilance measures are being taken, officers say.

“Our officers are checking for various things, infiltration of enemy nation citizens, and other criminals and ferrying of contraband material or weapons. The inspecting teams are coordinating among one another and have been well trained. The operation will go on for some time, till further instructions are received,” a senior police officer said.

Similar operations are on in other coastal districts of Karnataka, Goa and Kerala, the officer said.

“We are checking to see if any Pakistani nationals are travelling in any of the ships carrying imported material from the West Asian countries and other nations and if they are carrying valid documents. Inspecting officials have been instructed to ensure that no Pakistani gets off the boats and enters the State,” the officer said.

“If there are Pakistani crew members on ships carrying goods to the State, they are not allowed to disembark. All their documents, including their passports, are being collected. It is usual for cargo ships to arrive at commercial ports of Mangaluru and Karwar. Pakistani crew members tend to be on ships coming from Arab countries. Therefore, every cargo ship that arrives is being inspected,” another officer said.

Fishing boats are also being inspected on the coast. Continuous inspections are being carried out at bridges and water channels. Surveillance is being maintained in sensitive areas and some residential colonies in the district, officers said.

Karwar is a strategically important place as it has a nuclear establishment in Kaiga and the INS Kadamba Naval Base. It also has the Karwar commercial port. Work is on to build the Keni mega commercial port project which has been approved. Therefore, the State government is taking all precautions in terms of security, officers say.