Mumbai: The Western Naval Command has sounded the highest state of alert along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts in Maharashtra after reports of suspicious movement of an armed group dressed in Pathan suits in Uran.
Two students – a girl and a boy – saw four to five people in Pathan suits with shoulder bags.
A Navy spokesperson said that keeping in mind the current situation, no alert can be taken lightly.
"Our helicopters are making sorties at and around Uran," he said.
DGP of Maharashtra Police Satish Mathur said the 'suspected terrorists' were spotted early in the morning at 6:30 am.
Top Navy sources said a search operation was on in tandem with Maharashtra Police and the Coast Guard. Besides a naval base, Uran is also home to a JNPT container terminal.
Maharashtra Home Secretary KP Bakshi told CNN NESW18 that Commissioner of Police Navi Mumbai and the Inspector of coastal security are monitoring the situation and the verification process.
He said, "If need be we have force one on stand-by. But it is not yet deployed".
Bakshi added that there is no need to panic and that they have not yet asked for the National Security Guards (NSG) commandoes.
Bakshi also clarified that the students overheard these two specific words in the conversation the men were saying but he cannot independently confirm it until the time he speaks to the Commissioner of Police Navi Mumbai.
Sources claim that the locals students say they overheard the men say the words 'school' and 'ONGC'.
In a statement Indian Navy's Western Naval Command said it first initiated an alert and informed all coastal security stakeholders.
"Searches and other actions as per procedure have been initiated. The situation is being closely monitored in liaison with the police. No person has been located or apprehended till now," the statement added.
The school children who spotted the suspected men are being questioned by Navi Mumbai Commissioner of Police as well as other top police officials in Uran for further details.
The government run power giant ONGC has a plant at Uran and also a few container terminals.
Security has been beefed up at sensitive locations along the coast, including the Gateway of India, Raj Bhawan, Bombay High (rig), Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other major establishments near the sea.
Also read: School Children Spotted 'Suspected Terrorists' Near Navy Base
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