Goa to rope in ex-Navy officers to assist marine police

PTI, May 20, 2010, 01.59pm IST
PANAJI: The Goa government has decided to rope in former defence officers to guide its marine police force, armed with sophisticated boats to man the coast.

“We do not have trained manpower to handle such boats. We will have to be dependent on ex-officers of Indian Navy or Indian coast guard for the guidance,” chief secretary Sanjay Srivastava said.

“Officers can be employed with the special police unit for two to three years. The marine police will work in tandem with the Navy and coast guard to safeguard the state coastline, where vigil has been stepped up after 26/11 and recent terror alerts,” he said.

Srivastava was talking to the media after taking possession of a high-speed interceptor boat, constructed by Goa Shipyard Ltd (GSL).

The boat which is the fifth to be acquired by Goa has been provided under an initiative of the Union Home Ministry to strengthen coastal security.

Deputy Inspector General of Police Ravindra Yadav said the need for these boats was felt after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai when coastal security was breached.

“The basic responsibility of marine police is to use these boats to ensure there was no sea-bound terror attack and also detect and stop smuggling and other illegal activities,” he said.
Goa to rope in ex-Navy officers to assist marine police: Times of India

Stranded ship (the "River Princess") at Calangute Beach, Goa. The ship stranded in 2000 during an unexpected storm. Photo: Soman

Lowest bid for Princess's removal is Rs 108 crore
TNN, May 22, 2010, 01.51am IST
PANAJI: Getting rid of the grounded River Princess may now cost the state at least Rs 100 crore. When tourism department on Friday opened the financial bids of the two companies left in the fray for removing the grounded vessel, Goa-based Madgavkar Salvage was found to have submitted the lowest bid for Rs 108 crore.

"Madgavkar has submitted a financial bid of Rs 98 crore plus 10% tax. That works out to Rs 108 crore," tourism director Nikhil Desai told TOI.

Desai, however, said he was unable to provide details of the financial tender submitted by Madgavkar's competitors, US-based Titan Salvage.

"Titan Salvage has quoted higher. However, it does not mean that we have awarded the tender to any one of the bidders. We are yet to scrutinize Titan's bid," the tourism director said.

The decision on who gets the contract to get rid of River Princess lies with the Goa State Disaster Management Authority (GSDMA), which will meet shortly.
Lowest bid for Princess's removal is Rs 108 crore

Soldiers from the Indian Army and U.S. Marines board amphibious assault vehicles for joint training

Image: 090801-N-0327S-005.jpg The amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) click here

Description: Soldiers from the Indian Army and U.S. Marines wait to board amphibious assault vehicles.

100414-N-6199O-094 PACIFIC OCEAN (April 14, 2010) Soldiers from the Indian Army and U.S. Marines wait to board amphibious assault vehicles in the well deck of the amphibious transport dock ship USS New Orleans (LPD 18) during a joint exercise off the coast of San Diego. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Gabriel Owens/Released) click here

Delayed Flight- Respect for a veteran something to ponder!

This past week I was on a four and a half hour, non-stop flight from Seattle, Washington, to Atlanta, Georgia. In all my years of traveling, I have learned that each time a plane has the opportunity to stop, there is potential for unexpected challenges. Flight delays, weather and airline crews can create unanticipated challenges on any trip. Therefore, I always try to fly non-stop between my destinations.

About an hour into this particular flight, the Captain's voice rang over the intercom. He asked if there was a physician or nurse on the plane. If so, he asked them to identify themselves by ringing the flight attendant call button beside their seat.

I listened carefully but heard no one ring their bell. I immediately began to wonder what was happening. In a few minutes, the Captain informed us that there was a medical emergency onboard and asked again if there was a physician or a nurse who could help.

When there was no response, we were told that we were going to make an emergency stop in Denver, Colorado. He apologized but told us that there would be a medical emergency team waiting to meet us at the gate, and that we would probably only be delayed by about thirty minutes. Though it was necessary, we knew we would all be inconvenienced by the extra stop.

About half an hour later, we landed at Denver International Airport and the medical crew immediately came on board. However, everything took longer than had previously been expected. An elderly gentleman, about 85 years old, had suddenly taken ill. It was not clear whether he had experienced a stroke or a heart attack.

Even after the gentleman was carried off of the plane, we still sat there for quite a while. The original "short" stop turned into about an hour and a half. When we finally pushed back from the gate and were in the air, the pilot apologized profusely for the unavoidable delay. He said that since the stop had taken longer than expected, those passengers who needed to make connections in Atlanta would miss their flights, but would automatically be booked on the next flight out.

You could almost hear the moans and groans throughout the airplane of everyone who was being inconvenienced by the unexpected stop. Then the pilot did one of the classiest things I have personally ever seen or heard anyone do. He spoke into the intercom and said, "Ladies and gentlemen, I thought you might be interested in one bit of information. The elderly gentleman who was taken off the plane was a Marine in World War II. I am holding in my hand a copy of the Congressional Medal of Honor that was awarded to him and signed by President Harry Truman in 1945." The pilot went on to say, "I realize that we have all been inconvenienced today. However, in light of the fact that this gentleman was a war hero and was inconvenienced for four years of his life in order that we might experience the freedoms that we enjoy today, I thought you all should know that."

Immediately, the airplane was filled with applause. Everyone was cheering and so pleased to know that the gentleman had been cared for in a way that was fitting and appropriate. As we continued to fly, I thought to myself, "Isn't that interesting? We were concerned that we were inconvenienced for a couple of hours, and yet this gentleman's entire life was interrupted and inconvenienced for over four years while he went and fought in a war to protect the freedoms and values that we love and hold dear in this country today."

I breathed a prayer for the gentleman and asked God to bless him for all he had done to help us understand what freedom is all about. Dont we wish our citizens in this country also have this same type of attitude towards our Soldiers? Since- FREEDOM IS NOT FREE.

Lt Gen SK Bahri

We thank Brig VA Subramanyam for sending us this real life story as narrated by Gen Bahri.

Mumbai Mayhem: More than just Terrorists

The Mumbai Attackers were Commandos Skilled in Urban and Marine Warfare

Despite being badly bruised and battered in the NWFP and FATA, the Pakistan army and its dirty tricks department the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Directorate are continuing to pursue their ruthless agenda to sponsor brutal terrorist operations against soft targets in India.

The modus operandi of the terrorists who were responsible for the dastardly attacks at the Oberoi and Taj Mahal Palace hotels, Nariman House and Leopold Café in Colaba, as well as attacks launched against innocent civilians at the CST terminus and two Mumbai hospitals, clearly reveals that they had been trained in army and navy establishments by the Special Services Group (SSG), Pakistan's Special Forces.

The terrorist operation had the hallmark of a skilfully planned and methodically executed commando strike. All the targets had been carefully reconnoitred and dry runs and rehearsals had been carried out. The terrorists had acquired advanced map reading and sophisticated navigation skills including the use of GPS receivers. They had made and committed to memory detailed sketches of floor plans and entry and exit routes. They had been taught to communicate with each other through hand signs and to make only very short, coded transmissions on their phones or walky-talkies.

Their approach from Karachi to Mumbai by the sea route involved superior maritime skills and had an element of surprise built into it. On reaching closer to Mumbai, they discarded their mother boat so as to avoid accusations of Pakistani culpability and commandeered two fishing trawlers after killing the crew. For the final landing they switched to rubber dinghies so that they could close in with their intended "beach heads" with stealth.

The terrorists chose to land at relatively less frequented sites to remain undetected for as long as possible. They had made elaborate arrangements to acquire new identities and alibis that would not arouse suspicion. They handled adversity with a cool and calm demeanour. When questioned by a staff member of the Taj hotel, they casually replied that they were students. After landing and changing into battle gear, they dispersed to attack different targets and while a few were killed, others managed to re-group and converge on the main targets.

All the terrorists had been given rigorous physical training as they were in excellent physical shape. Mental conditioning ensured that they could withstand the rigours and pressures of being surrounded and being under withering fire for almost three nights rather well. They were resolute in action and aggressive in their orientation. Throughout the operation they exhibited remarkable clarity of thought and action. They showed no remorse or human feelings and ruthlessly executed men and women, the old and the infirm to achieve their nefarious designs.

Above all else, the training imparted to the terrorists by SSG personnel was reflected in the standard of "fire discipline" that they exhibited. Though they had strapped on large quantities of ammunition to their bodies, it would have been utterly inadequate to last three nights of firing had they not been trained to fire extremely selectively and in short bursts of three to four rounds as an AK-47 assault rifle can empty a 30-round magazine in under a minute when fired in the automatic mode. Each short burst was fired for effect, as was every single hand grenade. Considering the number of persons killed by them and those wounded, the terrorist commandos were quite obviously skilled marksmen who could fire from the hip with accuracy.

The minor tactics adopted by the terrorists were measured and succeeded for quite some time in creating the false impression that they were present in each location in large numbers. They went up and down the hotel buildings and fired and threw grenades from different floors, making the NSG and MARCOS commandos cautious and slowing down their operations. They never exposed themselves to Indian snipers who had been deployed all around the buildings under siege.

Finally, the Pakistani commandos put up stiff resistance against well-trained NSG and MARCOS personnel who were fresh and had the advantage of time on their side. The terrorists killed a gallant Major and one NCO of the Indian army and injured others. With the limited weaponry at their disposal, they caused massive collateral damage and left behind scenes of ghastly death and destruction – unbelievable carnage indeed.

The Indian army has faced well-trained Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir for almost two decades now but these men were much different. There can be no doubt whatsoever that these LeT or perhaps al Qaeda backed terrorists had been trained to the level of Special Forces commandos by the Pakistan military establishment and the ISI for this spectacular high risk mission. Whether or not the Pakistan government was also involved in planning and executing this gruesome tragedy in Mumbai, only time will tell.

Brig Gurmeet Kanwal (Retd)
Director, Centre for Land Warfare Studies (CLAWS), New Delhi.
Additional Reading
Stop terrorism for better ties: PM tells Pak
No stealth hazards
Tackling Pakistan
Reflections on 26/11 in the Chinese and Pakistani media