Latest news with #PNSGhazi
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Bare borders: A.P. Coastal Security Police left adrift without boats or backing
Just days before the mysterious sinking of Pakistan's submarine PNS Ghazi off Visakhapatnam coast during the India-Pakistan War of 1971, an unusual sighting by local fishermen hinted at secrets lurking beneath the sea — secrets that would soon shape a dramatic chapter in naval history. In the early hours of December 5, 1971, fishermen heading out in their traditional boats spotted a massive black object, shaped like a pointed gourd, rising from the depths near the coast. Frightened and uncertain, they rushed back to shore and reported the strange sight to local authorities. This unexpected encounter became a vital intelligence clue for the Indian Navy, confirming that the elusive Ghazi was operating close to Visakhapatnam's harbour. But that was only the beginning. Soon after, villagers spotted tall, bearded men clad in lungi, speaking Hindi, buying large quantities of provisions, and paying in Indian rupees. Who were these mysterious visitors, and what was their true purpose? Former Naval officers believe the fishermen's first sighting was the submarine surfacing to recharge its batteries, while the second involved enemy crew members secretly restocking supplies ashore. Yet, beneath these accounts lay deeper stories, ones that revealed more than just wartime manoeuvres. Both sightings provided crucial intelligence to the Eastern Naval Command, led by Vice-Admiral N. Krishnan, enabling a coordinated strike based on multiple inputs. While there are various accounts of Ghazi's sinking, the official Indian version credits INS Rajput, an R-class destroyer, with sinking the submarine using depth charges. Role of coastal security Andhra Pradesh's long, porous coastline makes it vulnerable, and the local fishermen community plays a vital role in providing key intelligence to safeguard the coast. Recognising this, securing the shoreline became a national priority. After the 1999 Kargil War, a Union Government ministerial panel was tasked with revamping coastal security. Their solution: every coastal State should have a dedicated special force to patrol and protect its waters. This led to the creation of a three-layered coastal security system. The first layer, from the shoreline up to 12 nautical miles, is managed by the Coastal Security Police (CSP). From 12 to 200 nautical miles — the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) — the Coast Guard takes charge, while beyond that, the Navy operates in international waters, explains Gopinath Jatti, DIG of A.P.'s CSP. In 2005, Andhra Pradesh received its initial allotment: six coastal police stations and 18 fast interceptor crafts (five weighing 12 tonnes and 13 of five tonnes), funded by the Union Government. With about 1,053 km of coastline stretching from Sriharikota in Nellore to HPCL in Visakhapatnam, the State hosts one major port, five non-major or private ports, 595 coastal villages, and 350 fish landing centers, all critical points needing protection. In the second phase, Andhra Pradesh was sanctioned 15 additional coastal police stations, bringing the total to 21, strengthening the State's ability to monitor and secure its vast coastline. Defunct boats, declining security After the 2008 Mumbai terror attack, CSP forces across States like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat and Odisha received much-needed upgrades. However, Andhra Pradesh has fallen far behind despite its strategically vital installations. All 18 CSP boats in the State have been non-operational since 2018, when the annual maintenance contract (AMC) with Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), the boat manufacturer, expired and was not renewed due to its steep cost of around ₹12 crore per year. The sanctioned strength of the CSP is about 1,500 personnel but only just over 500 are currently active. Many coastal police stations are in poor condition, suffering from a lack of proper maintenance and support. A major issue is that the five non-major ports in Andhra Pradesh are privately owned and secured by private agencies, leaving the CSP without any control or accountability. Only the Visakhapatnam Port is secured by the CISF, a Central paramilitary force. The State has about 29 islands, three of which are inhabited, but none have jetties for CSP personnel to effectively patrol or man them. Although the Union government has sanctioned ₹3 crore to build seven jetties, CSP officials say this funding is insufficient. Fresh proposals have been submitted to the Centre requesting increased support. Initiatives taken Despite numerous challenges, the CSP is striving to fulfil its mandate effectively. Speaking to The Hindu, said that with the CSP boats currently non-functional, they have stepped up joint patrolling efforts with the Indian Navy and Coast Guard. 'We take up two days of patrolling on naval ships and daily with the Coast Guards. This in one way also betters our seafaring skills,' he said. Another initiative is the adoption of fishing villages — each constable is assigned at least one village, allowing CSP to cover all 595 fishing communities. Explaining this approach, Mr. Jatti said, 'Our main idea is to get close to the community. We have seen in the past that the fishing community plays a vital role in information sharing. Moreover, this also helps us in organising community outreach programmes.' To bolster intelligence-gathering, Mr. Jatti has also launched a Coastal Intelligence Unit, headed by a DSP and staffed with 40 personnel, including inspectors. Its primary role is collecting intelligence from all coastal stakeholders — fishing communities, village inhabitants, trawler pilots and traditional fishermen. 'Post 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, the relevance of gathering intelligence inputs from various stakeholders, was recognised and well understood. This unit gathers information not only from the fishing community, but from all inhabitants of the coastal villages, trawler pilots and staff and traditional fishermen. Anything unusual is looked into and logged and shared with other intelligence agencies. This enables us to engage in continuous monitoring and fill lacunae. Moreover, to make people accessible to us, we have launched a toll free number 1093, to enable people to inform us about any happenings, including drowning and missing-at-sea complaints,' he said. Pending proposals A host of crucial proposals is currently awaiting clearance from the State government, that could revive and significantly strengthen the CSP. At the top of the list is the renewal of the annual maintenance contract (AMC) for the 18 Fast Interceptor Crafts (FICs) built by GRSE. Without this renewal, the already grounded fleet risks becoming completely defunct. Once operational, these FICs, designed for high-speed interception, search-and-rescue missions and anti-smuggling operations, would restore critical muscle to the CSP. So far, the force has cracked 42 cases involving illegal migrants, but their reach is currently limited without boats. To bridge the gap, CSP has proposed hiring 20 private boats for patrolling as an interim solution that would cost the State around ₹6 crore annually. Another proposal seeks to bring technology into play. CSP has requested funding to purchase 27 high-end surveillance drones, with an estimated price tag of ₹25 crore. These drones are expected to have a range of at least 5 km to suit maritime needs. 'Even if high-end drones aren't sanctioned, we have also included a lower-cost option — mid-range drones for ₹10 crore,' said a senior CSP official. To enhance beach patrolling, the force has also sought a few all-terrain vehicles. 'So far, our personnel have saved nearly 95 lives from drowning,' said Yet, the challenges aren't just technological or logistical. Though CSP is a fully recognised wing of the police, its legal powers are limited; it can currently operate under just 18 Sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. A proposal has been submitted to expand this to at least 50 Sections, enabling officers to act more decisively. Some progress has been made. 'Colour coding of fishing boats is done, and the installation of transponders is under way,' said Mr. Jatti. 'The Centre has sanctioned 3 lakh transponders. We have received 1 lakh, and about 60% have already been installed.' To tighten tracking, work is also under way to set up a centralised information centre. 'We need to know when each fishing boat leaves, who is aboard and when they return. This isn't just surveillance; it is about closing loopholes that traffickers or infiltrators might exploit,' Mr. Jatti explained. But until the pending proposals get the green light, these plans remain aspirations. For a force that guards over 1,000 km of coastline, time is ticking and the system must catch up before vulnerabilities are exploited.
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Ghazi wreck in Visakhapatnam echoes amid India-Pakistan tensions
On the night of December 3, 1971, Visakhapatnam was wrapped in a wartime blackout. The eastern naval port, already on high alert amid rising tensions with Pakistan in the wake of the battle for the liberation of East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), had dimmed its lights and quieted its streets. Along the coast, families huddled indoors, familiar by now with the shrill warning of sirens. Cloaked by darkness at sea, Pakistan submarine, PNS Ghazi, crept through the waters of the Bay of Bengal with a singular mission: to sink India's prized aircraft carrier, INS Vikrant, which it believed was anchored in the harbour. It was past dinner time in Dondaparthy when history enthusiast Vijjeswarapu Edward Paul heard a muffled but powerful sound, jolting the silence of the Port City. 'It felt like an earthquake. We were terrified. Rumours spread like wildfire that war had broken out,' he recalls. That same night, hundreds across Visakhapatnam were left bewildered by the mysterious blast. Noel Thomas, a member of the Anglo-Indian community and a native of the city, was posted in Bhopal at the time. 'My friends back home spoke of a massive explosion near the harbour, but no one knew what had happened and where. Radio was our only lifeline to information, and for days, there was just silence,' says Noel. The mystery was finally unravelled a few days later when All India Radio announced that PNS Ghazi had exploded and sunk off the coast of Visakhapatnam during a covert operation. What unfolded that night on December 4, 1971, would go on to shape not just the history of Visakhapatnam but also redefine India's naval might. The sinking of PNS Ghazi during the 1971 Indo-Pak war remains a pivotal moment in the maritime history of the subcontinent. The incident that happened off the eastern coast of Visakhapatnam is seen as a symbol of strategic dominance at sea. Today, as India and Pakistan continue to navigate a complex relationship marked by diplomatic tensions and regional security challenges, the Ghazi incident serves as a reminder of how maritime strength can shape national narratives. The recent military conflict between India and Pakistan has stirred conversations across Visakhapatnam, bringing back memories buried deep in collective consciousness. For many residents, especially those with a long-standing connection to the city's maritime and naval history, the current tensions bring back the echoes of the 1971 war and of a submarine whose silent story rests beneath the sands of time. A walk along Beach Road leads to Visakha Museum, where a dome and metal parts of PNS Ghazi rest at the maritime section. Torn and battered, the remnant of its outer hull remains displayed as a war trophy and a stark reminder of a decisive moment in naval history. 'In 1971, the danger felt much closer, more intimate,' recalls 79-year-old V Kameshwar Rao, who was a young boy in Visakhapatnam during the war. 'When news came that a Pakistani submarine had been sunk just off our coast, it felt like the war had touched our shoreline.' The sinking of Ghazi The events leading up to the sinking of PNS Ghazi remain shrouded in mystery with debated accounts. The Indian Navy stated that the submarine was lured by misinformation about INS Vikrant's position and subsequently destroyed by depth charges from the Indian destroyer INS Rajput on the night of December 3, 1971. Vice Admiral Nilakanta Krishnan, one of India's astute naval minds, led the Eastern Naval Command during the 1971 war with a mix of calm foresight and audacious improvisation. In his memoir No Way But Surrender – An account of the Indo-Pakistan War in the Bay of Bengal 1971, Krishnan offers a first-hand account of the tense days leading up to the sinking of PNS Ghazi. He details the intelligence inputs that pointed to Ghazi's arrival in the Bay of Bengal and the strategic deception he crafted to counter the threat. With INS Vikrant already repositioned to the Andaman Islands, Krishnan masterminded an elaborate ruse by spreading false signals and port chatter about the carrier's presence in Visakhapatnam and using the ageing destroyer INS Rajput to simulate Vikrant's movements. 'I had to make them believe what we wanted them to believe,' he wrote, underscoring the psychological theatre of naval warfare. Ghazi, misled by the bait, approached the Visakhapatnam coast and met its end in the early hours of December 4. Retired Vice-Admiral G.M. Hiranandani, in his book Transition to Triumph, asserts that the ill-fated submarine most likely went down due to an internal explosion, though the true cause, he notes, remains open to debate. According to a retired naval officer, the first information report was given by fishermen who reported finding flotsam on the morning of December 4. Regardless of how it happened, the explosion off Visakhapatnam coast changed the course of naval operations in the war. Whether it struck an Indian-laid depth charge or fell victim to its own mines remains debated, but Krishnan's deliberate misinformation campaign was undeniably central to its demise. The sinking of Ghazi not only protected India's eastern fleet but also provided a significant morale boost. The war ended 13 days later with India's victory and the creation of Bangladesh. Years later, a piece of Ghazi's hull was recovered and preserved at the Visakha Museum. Last year the Indian Navy's newly acquired deep submergence rescue vehicle (DSRV) located the wreckage of PNS Ghazi at a depth of approximately 100 metres, about two to 2.5 kilometres from the coast. As tensions deescalate, for now, Visakhapatnam continues to stand as a sentinel city, a custodian of a submerged past. The fragment of PNS Ghazi remains a silent witness to the ferocity of war and the fragility of peace.
The Hindu
12-05-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Old timers in Vizag recall the 1971 Indo-Pak War
In the age of social media, spread of misinformation has become a rising challenge for the authorities. Even as the Indian Armed Forces successfully thwarted several attacks made by Pakistan in the bordering States in the last week, the misinformation campaign run by the neighbouring country on social media left many confused over the state of affairs. People glued to their phones for updates regarding 'Operation Sindoor' were left baffled over the 'unconfirmed information with AI-generated images' spread online. But, what about the 1971 Indo-Pak war, on what sources did the people of Visakhapatnam rely on. Radio was the only source of reliable information back in the day and the use of landline telephones was limited. However, the All India Radio (AIR) in Visakhapatnam, which was established in 1963, was popular by then. Retired Professor Dr. G. Hanumantha Rao, who was a student of Andhra Medical College during the 1971 war, recalls, 'I was in our college when I heard a loud thud, and later came to know that a Pakistan submarine was sunk by the Indian Navy. Later, we (some classmates) went to the beach, which was close to our college, and someone told us that their windows rattled at that time. Information used to spread through word-of-mouth and it used to be confirmed by AIR news, during its shows in the morning and evening.' Dr. Rao retired from the Maharaja Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS), Viziangaram, a few years ago. 'We used to stay at Wireless Colony (Railway Colony), near Visakhapatnam railway station. Radio was a reliable source of information at that time. Mikes (public address systems) used to be installed at parks and public places to enable the general public to listen to regional and national news bulletins,' recalls Kota Prabhakara Rao, a retired railway employee. 'A blackout used to be observed with lights switched off after dusk. Citizens of Visakhapatnam used to stock candles and kerosene oil,' said Vijjeswarapu Edward Paul, a history enthusiast and native of Vizag. Mr. Paul told The Hindu that the control of shipping movements at the Port was taken over by the Indian Navy. Fishermen were sensitised by the Navy personnel against the movement of strangers. 'Vice Admiral N. Krishnan, the then Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Eastern Naval Command, Visakhapatnam, was said to have lured the PNS Ghazi to the Visakhapatnam coast, in search of INS Vikrant, and the Pakistani submarine was sunk off Visakhapatnam coast,' he said. The broken glass dome of the sunken PNS Ghazi is still on displace for public viewing at the Visakha Museum on Beach Road.
India.com
08-05-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Married a Pakistani soldier, got her husband killed after pregnancy and helped India win, read the extraordinary story of an Indian female spy
Married a Pakistani soldier, got her husband killed after pregnancy and helped India win, read the extraordinary story of an Indian female spy Remember movie Raazi where Alia Bhat becomes an Indian spy and enters Pakistan by marrying an Army general in Pakistan? Such is the story of spy named Sahamat whose father wanted her to serve the country and hence she married an army officer in Pakistan. This story begins in 1969. A student from Jammu and Kashmir studying in Delhi University was suddenly called home by her father. The father's last wish was to prepare his daughter to serve the country. This girl later became famous by the name 'Sahamat' who played an important role in the 1971 war. Father was also a spy According to Harinder Singh Sikka's novel 'Calling Sahamat', Sahamat's father worked for India's intelligence agency R&AW. Due to business, he had contacts across the border. Due to this, during the 1965 war, he received many important messages from Pakistan and delivered them to the Indian agency. He had cancer and the disease had reached a stage where treatment was not possible. He wanted his daughter to work for the country after him. Marriage in Pakistan At that time, Sahamat, who was only 20 years old, was doing her graduation and was also learning classical dance and violin playing. On her father's insistence, she left her studies and became a spy. She was sent to Pakistan on a mission. She had to find out what plans were being made among the top officers of the Pakistani army. For this mission, Sahamat had to marry Pakistani army officer Iqbal Syed. Iqbal's father Brigadier Parvez Syed was also a senior officer in the army. Sahamat was told that she had to listen to the conversations of army officers. She was also given basic training to send and receive emergency messages through Morse code. Influence in the army Sahamat not only won the trust of her in-laws but also of other families living in the army quarters. Her art of music and dance came in handy. She started training children in the army school. Along with the grandchildren of General Yahya Khan, children of top officers of the Pakistani army also studied in this school. Gradually, Sahamat gained access to the Pakistani defence sector and intelligence circles. Because of him, his father-in-law Brigadier Parvez Syed also got the benefit of promotion. Destruction of Ghazi Meanwhile, the war between India and Pakistan was almost certain in 1971. At that time India had the indigenous aircraft carrier INS Vikrant. This carrier proved to be strategically very important in India's victory over Pakistan and the independence of Bangladesh. However, Pakistan was aware of this and then planned to target the Indian warship deployed in the Bay of Bengal. Pakistan assigned the mission of sinking the Indian warship to its missile-equipped submarine PNS Ghazi. Sahamat came to know about this. He sent information related to the positioning of PNS Ghazi to India and the Indian Navy took immediate action and sank the Pakistani submarine near Visakhapatnam port. All the people on board were killed. Return to the country Abdul, a close associate of the Syed family, suspected Sahamat. Sahamat killed him by crushing him with a truck. Sahamat's husband Iqbal also came to know the truth. Sahamat's handlers killed him too. She was pregnant, and then she returned safely to India. After this, she decided to spend the rest of her life in Malerkotla, Punjab. The boy with whom she had first fallen in love in DU was still waiting for her. But, Sahamat, with a burden of blood on her heart, was not ready. That boy then raised Sahamat's son, who later became an army officer himself. Sahamat died in 2018 and his real identity has been kept secret till date so that his son is not in danger.
The Hindu
07-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Operation Sindoor: Armed Forces shouldn't rest till the last terrorist is eliminated, says Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan
Calling 'Operation Sindoor' a befitting reply to Pakistan for waging a 'blood proxy war against India,' Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan said on Wednesday that the Indian Armed Forces should not rest till the last terrorist was eliminated. The entire nation was supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the fight against terrorism, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said, and exhorted every citizen to act responsibly in these difficult times. Addressing the media in Hyderabad, Mr. Pawan Kalyan said those posting derogatory messages against the Armed Forces on social media would be taken to task, and advised the Congress leaders to refrain from the way they had been commenting on the Pahalgam terror attack and its aftermath. That incident united the country, and everyone had since wanted India to strike back at Pakistan not only for killing 26 tourists but also for fomenting trouble in Jammu & Kashmir (J&K) for decades, he observed. He said 'Operation Sindoor' was specifically targeted at terrorist camps in Pakistan, and it did not affect civilians or the military bases there. 'This is due to the disciplined approach of the Indian Armed Forces,' he said. Mr. Pawan Kalyan said Kashmir was an integral part of India and the Pakistan-backed terrorists had killed many Kashmiri Pandits. The bomb blasts at Gokul Chat and Lumbini Park in Hyderabad were unforgettable. It was because of those forces inimical to India that peace was shattered in J&K, and it was high time Pakistan was taught a lesson, he said. Mr. Pawn Kalyan reiterated that the Congress leaders who made certain objectionable comments on the terrorist attack in Pahalgam should better leave India and go to Pakistan. He said with its 974-km long coastline, Andhra Pradesh was vulnerable to attacks, and the fact that the Pakistani submarine, PNS Ghazi, could reach within the striking distance of Visakhapatnam, the headquarters of Eastern Naval Command (ENC), during the 1971 India-Pakistan war should always be kept in mind, lest India should lower its guard against external threats.
