Article Posted on : - Nov 21, 2009

NEW DELHI (PTI): Defence Minister A K Antony has asked the three services to remain alert and step up vigilance around the first anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks.

Antony held a meeting to review the overall security situation in the country with National Security Adviser M K Narayanan, the three service chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, Admiral Nirmal Verma and the Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar.

The Defence Minister reviewed the preparedness and operational capabilities of the three services in the meeting and asked them to remain alert and maintain enhanced vigilance around the anniversary of the attacks.

Antony asked the Navy, which is the overall in-charge of coastal security and better its coordination with Coast Guard and other agencies, to plug gaps in their apparatus.

The recent developments in the 26/11 investigations are also understood to have been discussed during the meeting, which lasted for two hours.

Coastal security has been the main focus area for the government after the Mumbai terror attacks, as the terrorists had used the sea route to infiltrate into the metropolis and carry out attacks on multiple targets, killing over 170 people.