PANJIM: A week after the District Coast Guard issued a terror alert input, a joint meeting of the Indian Navy, Coast Guard and the Captain of Ports was held this week to discuss who should issue an alert and how it should be graded.
The lack of coordination among the agencies was exposed when the Ports Administration had in an urgent noting asked water sports operators, casino vessels, barges and cruise vessels to remain alert, while Chief Secretary Dhamendra Sharma and Goa Police feigned ignorance about the threat alert. A day later, Sharma had said it was a general alert whereas the Police Department reiterated they were not informed about it.
It is now learnt that the Coast Guard had indeed issued an alert, which was sent to agencies concerned. A Senior Coast Guard official confirmed to Herald that they had received a general threat input to all coastal states on the west coast. Following routine norms they intimated this to all the security agencies concerned, including Goa Police at its control room and Coastal Police through a fax message.
Sources said that on Wednesday discussions revolved on which agency should issue an alert and how it needs to be done. It is also learnt that Maharashtra, Gujarat and Kerala were also put on alert along with Goa.
