How a 16-foot yacht points to nation’s vulnerability to a terror attack

Source: The post is based on the article “How a 16-foot yacht points to nation’s vulnerability to a terror attack” published in the Indian Express on 25^th August 2022.

Syllabus: GS 3 Security Challenges and their Management in Border Areas

Relevance: Maritime Security

News: Last week, an unmanned yacht (Lady Han), carrying a cache of arms and AK-47 rifles, live ammunition etc. reached the shores of Maharashtra. A day later, the Mumbai Traffic Police’s WhatsApp helpline number also received messages with a warning that a ‘26/11-like terror attack’ will soon be executed in Mumbai.

Why is this incident a matter of concern?

The boat dodged the Indian Navy’s surveillance, the Indian Coast Guard’s monitoring and also slipped through Maharashtra’s Coastal Police dragnet and finally reached the Maharashtra shore.

The happening of this incident has all the markings of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which resulted in the killing of more than 150 innocents and injuring hundreds in Mumbai.

What are the issues in India’s maritime security?

The Ram Pradhan Committee formed after the 26/11 Attack, found that there was a clear lack of coordination between the state and central intelligence and investigation agencies, including the defence forces, which resulted in the 26/11 attack.

Based on the recommendations of the Committee, it was decided that heads of all state and central agencies, including the defence agencies, will meet at least once in six months. This is to ensure there is a proper and seamless flow of information and intelligence between all the agencies. But, in the past 13 years, this meeting has happened only once, in 2009.

After the 26/11 attacks, the Maharashtra coastal police were set up to man the Maharashtra coastline. In Mumbai, coastal police stations have been established. Amphibian vehicles were provided to man the coastline, but these vehicles are no longer functional due to a lack of proper maintenance.

Unfortunately, the incident is important to understand that no lessons have been learnt from the astounding failures of 26/11.