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Indian Express
08-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
From desert to sea: How Gujarat has ramped up security along the border
Given its unique position as the only state in India to share a land as well as a sea border with Pakistan, Gujarat is undertaking a series of measures to ramp up security in the state in light of escalating tensions between the two countries. On Wednesday, Gagandeep Gambhir, the IG of Police Administration in the state, issued an order cancelling the leave of all police officers and ordering others to return to duty. Notably, Gujarat's Bhuj was among the places where Pakistan attempted to engage a number of military targets on the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday. While Gujarat's international land border, mostly made up of desert (Rann of Kachchh) and marshes, is approximately 512 km long, the state also has the longest coastline in India, which, according to revised estimates released in April, now stands at 2,340 km. Ever since the attack in Kashmir on April 22, joint patrolling of the BSF and Police have only intensified in Kutch, which not only has the largest border — both land and sea — with Pakistan, but is the largest district in India, in terms of area, with sparse population and a hostile terrain. Vikas Sunda, the Superintendent of Police of Kutch (West), said that joint border visits and intelligence sharing has been strengthened between several agencies. 'We are not only seeking help from the civilian population who have resided in the border villages for generations now, but are also coordinating with the Sagar Rakshak Dal (SRD) volunteers and Fishermen's Watch Group to enhance security,' said Sunda. The villagers in these border areas also bring specialised skills as force multipliers. Banaskantha Police SP Akshayraj Makwana said they have inducted members of the Pagi tribe into the force, who accompany camel-riding police personnel during patrols into the desert. The Pagi tribe is renowned for their tracking skills in the desert. In fact, Ranchhoddas Pagi, who died in 2013, was invaluable to the Indian Army during the 1965 and 1971 wars with Pakistan. Along the western seaboard of Gujarat, police personnel in various districts have begun detailed documentation checks of boats, their owners and the fishermen. Cargo holds of these boats are also being checked randomly, while community leaders and Fishermen's Watch Group in all districts have been asked to immediately report any suspicious activity. Leaders of Boat Owners' Associations in various districts confirmed to The Indian Express that their boats were being thoroughly checked and fishermen were cooperating with the security agencies. Notably, the boat 'MV Kuber', which Pakistani hijackers used to land in Mumbai to carry out the 26/11 attacks, was based out of Porbandar. 'We have instituted 24-hour patrolling across all coastal villages and are coordinating with the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) to manage the safety of vital installations like the refinery,' said SP Premsukh Delu of Jamnagar. He confirmed that while fishermen had not been restricted from carrying out their business, they had been asked to take special care to not venture out too close to the IMBL. Joint boat patrolling is also being undertaken along with the Coast Guard. Amit Vishwakarma, the Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) for the Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Coastal Security in Gujarat, said, 'We are on full alert. We have increased vigilance especially around vital installations like ports and temples. Routine work of checking boats is being undertaken by coastal police.' Gujarat has the Ambaji, Dwarka and Somnath temples located in border districts. The sea coast of Gujarat is also bordered by the two union territories (UTs) of Diu in Saurashtra and Daman in South Gujarat. Una town of Gir-Somnath district shares a bridge with Diu. Gir Somnath SP Manoharsinh Jadeja said, 'The temple security has been overhauled. While we cannot divulge all details, I can say that armed police presence has been increased and regular sweep of the premises is being undertaken by the Bomb Detection and Disposal Squad (BDDS) and Dog Squad. The UT has its own security but we have enhanced checking on the sea routes and land route between the Diu and the mainland.' Giving an overview of the armed commandos deployed across the state, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Marine Task Force (MTF), RT Sushra, said, 'The MTF are deputed in the 12 vital locations on the coastal area across the state in Saurashtra, Kutch and South Gujarat. The teams are patrolling round-the-clock in the sea water and are in coordination with the Coast Guard teams and local police. We have a full staff of 500 commandos, which are kept on reserve and would be used during emergencies.' There are a total of 23 islands situated off Dwarka district, which need special attention. Of these, 21 are uninhabited while Beyt Dwarka and Ajad Tapu are inhabited. While Beyt Dwarka, which is part of Hindu mythology, is being developed as an eco-tourism site with the Sudarshan Setu sea bridge inaugurated in February 2024, Ajad Tapu has a community of 50 inhabitants. Seven other islands, which had residential and religious structures on them, had been cleared of settlements in 2024 citing 'national security'. SP Nitesh Pandey said that boat patrolling had been increased across the island chain. Surat city has a mega industrial zone right on the coastline. So, while identities of fishermen are being verified at sea, the documents of industrial workers are being cross-checked on land. Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Deep Vakil of 'J' Division of Surat City Police told The Indian Express, 'Police teams from Hazira, Ichhapore, Dumas and Marine police stations on Wednesday carried out meeting with security staffers of multinational companies like AM/NS (Archelor Mittal/ Nippon Steel), Kribhco, Reliance, L&T, ONGC, NTPC, IOCL, Shell, Adani Wilmar, Gail, Roro Ferry services, Sun petrochemicals company, etc. They guided the security staffers of these companies to carry out Focused Coastal Security Mock Drill.' ACP Vakil added, 'There are 12 vital locations in my J division and we have given suggestions to many of the companies on security purposes and have also told them to verify the documents of the labourers working under contract in the companies, which is also an important part of security measures…The contractors have been briefed to watch out for any labourer who has criminal backgrounds. Those who are Bangladeshi should be identified and local police should be immediately informed.' DIG Sushra said, 'In Surat and South Gujarat, many multinational companies are established on the sea coast, and our teams have carried out security checkups in a few of them at Hazira in Surat and Valsad. Our teams are on their toes and local people on coastal areas as well as the fishermen community has also been alerted and advised not to venture deep into the sea.' On routine government, business and tourism being unaffected by the ongoing situation, The Indian Express spoke to Banaskantha Collector Mihir Patel who said, 'There are no instructions for government facilities to remain closed. Though, we have stocked medical supplies at the health centres, which is a part of preparedness.' All the government schools and private ones affiliated to the Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) are already closed for summer vacations. 'Somnath Temple is open. No special instructions for fishermen too,' Collector of Gir Somnath N V Upadhyay told this newspaper. The security apparatus of Gujarat, apart from intelligence and regulatory agencies, is made up of multiple layers. While the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) with Pakistan is patrolled by the Indian Navy, the coastline is guarded by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) and then finally by the Coastal Police and the Marine Task Force (MTF) commandos. On the other hand, the land border is secured by the Gujarat Frontier of the Border Security Force (BSF) along with the District Police. Gujarat is also home to several frontline Air Force bases.
Indian Express
07-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mock drill, blackout observed in 18 districts in Gujarat; over 500 take part
A civil defence mock drill, following directions from the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), was on Wednesday held in 18 districts of Gujarat — a state, which shares both a land as well as a sea border with Pakistan. The MHA directive was issued in the aftermath of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives on April 22. Hours ahead of the mock drill, the Indian armed forces carried out an air strike, dubbed 'Operation Sindoor', on terrorist camps in Pakistan, heightening tensions between both countries. In Ahmedabad, the mock drill was conducted in nine places — including Dhandhuka Municipality, Viramgam Tank Farm of the Salaya-Mathura Pipeline System (SMPL) of Indian Oil, Pirana Sub Station Power Grid, the industrial complex at Vatva GIDC, Gallops Industrial Park on the outskirts of the city, Ganeshpura (Koth) Temple, Torrent Power Plant at Sabarmati, Tata Plant at Sanand GIDC, and Palladium Mall in Thaltej. According to officials involved in the mock drill, 'Operation Abhyas', at Palladium Mall, citizens were made aware about civil defence. After the air raid siren was rung, the fire department team sprayed water on the building, and the 'mock fire' was extinguished immediately. Everyone was shifted to a safe place i.e. the basement of the mall by rescue and police personnel. People identified as 'injured' were immediately shifted to hospital. More than 500 people participated in the mock drill, including 50 personnel and officers each from the Ahmedabad Fire Department and Ahmedabad city police department, six from the state Health Department, six from the AMC, eight from Revenue Department, 10 from Ambulance services, 20 from civil defence services, one each from RTO and GSRTC, seven from Roads and Buildings Department, and staffers from various business establishments of the mall. In Kutch, a senior police officer said that the mock drill was conducted at vital installations, including Kandla and Mundra Ports. A statement by the Kutch collectorate said, 'Citizens were given an understanding of self-defence in case of an air strike warning, first aid and evacuation of air strike casualties, treatment of civilians injured in bomb blasts, prompt action in fire incidents and protection against chemical accidents.' Airstrike mock drills took place at the Reliance Refinery and Sikka Thermal Power Stations in Jamnagar city. While the mock drills were conducted after 4 pm, blackouts were carried out between 7.30 pm and 9 pm across the state in three tranches. A senior official in Ahmedabad said that blackouts windows were different for differnt parts of the state in order to lessen the load on the power grid. Meanwhile, in an order on Wednesday evening, Gagandeep Gambhir, IG, Police Administration, issued an order, cancelling the leaves of all police officers, and asked those already on leave to return to duty.
