Terror group JeM training 'underwater wing' members for attack: Indian Navy

The Indian Navy has received information that terror organization Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) is training a few of its members from the “underwater wing” to carry out attacks, said Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh on Monday (August 26).

“We have received intelligence that the underwater wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed is being trained. We are keeping a track of it and we assure you that we are fully alert,” he said.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a lecture named, ‘Indian Ocean Region – Changing Dynamics – Maritime Security Imperatives for India’ at Pune, Singh assured everyone that coastal security has been enhanced to ensure that there is no intrusion from the sea.

The lecture, which was part of a series conducted in memory of the late Army Chief General B C Joshi, had been organized by the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at the Armed Forces Medical College, Pune.

#WATCH: Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, says,"we have received intelligence that the underwater wing of Jaish-e-Mohammed is being trained. We are keeping a track of it and we assure you that we are fully alert." pic.twitter.com/IYYCrn6qcE

— ANI (@ANI) August 26, 2019

Singh stated that the Indian Navy has been in-charge of overall maritime security ever since the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai on November 26, 2008. Terrorists from the terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba had entered Mumbai through the Arabian Sea and triggered a series of attacks that resulted in the death of more than 160 people.

The Navy Chief Admiral said that the Indian navy was also keeping an eye on the movements of the Chinese Navy in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) since the Indian Ocean had always been a strategically important location for seaborne operations.

Regarding the issue of allocations for the Naval Budget being lowered from 18% to 13%, Singh said that they had to modify their procurement plans of naval equipment since the current allocations created limitations.

“We need budgetary support for naval capabilities,” he said, adding that they needed help in building and strengthening their capacity and defence capabilities.

(With inputs from agencies)