After the attack in Mumbai on 26th Nov 2008 by terrorists who arrived by fishing trawlers, the Centre gave national importance to coastal security. In 2012, Goa had seven coastal police stations and seven 12-tonne interceptor patrol boats. In April 2023, it was reported that since 2018 Goa did not have any boats as these had broken down and had not been serviced/replaced. Police walked along the coast and rivers for surveillance and used inflatable boats within the rivers and borrowed boats from the Fisheries Department and Captain of Ports. In August 2024, the High Court raised a serious concern about the shortage of patrol boats. During his address in Goa at the 28th meeting of the Western Zonal Council, the Union Home Minister stressed coastal security and the fight against narcotics and said that the Centre would take these very seriously over the next two years. He urged the Chief Ministers to add these to their agenda (TGE Sep 9, 2026). Coastal and river security is a grave issue and the Goa government must accord top priority to purchasing patrol boats. Several alleged hardened criminals and terrorists have been arrested in Goa. Were they up to something or relaxing? Goa has naval installations, oil storage tanks, industrial houses and vibrant tourism. The ‘sitting ducks’ (casinos) in River Mandovi are easy targets for radical elements.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
