Sri Vijaya Puram, October 29: The detection and apprehension of simulated intruders during a two-day coastal security exercise in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands tested the preparedness of security agencies to respond to maritime threats and attacks on critical installations.
The exercise, Sagar Kavach-02/26, ran from 6 am on October 27 to 6 pm on October 28, with participating agencies simulating attempts by Red Force elements to enter from the sea and attacks on land-based Vital Areas and Vital Points (VA/VPs). The scenarios tested existing coastal security arrangements, surveillance systems, operational responses and coordination among agencies.
District Police personnel and the Police Marine Force (PMF) Unit detected and apprehended the simulated intruders during the exercise. The operations tested the agencies’ ability to identify potential threats approaching from the seaward side and respond to simulated security breaches.
The Andaman and Nicobar Police deployed personnel and equipment across the islands, positioning teams at identified vital areas, vital points and coastal locations. Police units also used available marine assets for coastal patrols and surveillance throughout the exercise.
The drills covered both maritime and land-based scenarios, requiring participating agencies to assess their operational readiness across different parts of the coastal security system. The exercise also tested the coordination required to respond to potential threats spanning coastal waters and installations on land.
The participating agencies coordinated their operations during the exercise, which concluded on October 28. The administration of the drills focused on validating existing security mechanisms and assessing the capacity of the agencies involved to respond to simulated maritime and coastal threats.
The exercise forms part of efforts to test the preparedness of the Union Territory’s coastal security arrangements against potential security challenges. Its scenarios placed particular emphasis on detecting unauthorised entry from the sea, protecting identified vital installations and assessing how effectively the agencies could coordinate their responses.
