Warned by intelligence agencies of movement of terrorists who could carry out another 26/11-type attack, the Navy and the Coast Guard are carrying out ‘Operation Raksha’ along the Gujarat coast scanning for militants.

“Intelligence agencies issued a warning regarding the movement of terrorists towards the Gujarat coast and planning to carry out Mumbai-type attacks. We immediately started the Operation Raksha in the end of September to look out for the suspected terrorists,” Defence Ministry sources said.

“The operation has been going on for over a fortnight now and we are boarding and searching suspected ships moving towards the Gujarat coast,” they said.

More than 10 ships have been deployed for the search operations in the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat Coast by the Navy and the Coast Guard.

“Coast Guard itself has deployed five of its ships and two of its Dornier surveillance aircraft are scanning the suspected terror routes to thwart any possible attack through the sea route everyday along with Naval aircraft and ships,” sources said.

The terrorists involved in the 26/11 terror attacks on Mumbai last year had entered Indian waters through sea route close to the Gujarat coast after hijacking an Indian fishing trawler.

Local police and Customs officials are also assisting the Coast Guard and Navy in the Operation, which is expected to continue for another fortnight.

After the Mumbai attacks, armed forces have increased their vigil along the coastline and are in the process of installing electronic surveillance equipment and sensors to try and detect movement of terrorists in the area.