No ISIS terrorists entered Mumbai via sea, says police

Mumbai: Mumbai police on Thursday refuted the authenticity of claims related to arrival of three alleged operatives of banned terror outfit Islamic State (IS) entering the city by way of the sea. The police said that there was round-the-clock coastal vigil to thwart terror attacks ever since the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks of 2008. The police’s denial came amid unverified reports about coastal security agencies allegedly alerting city police about the arrival of terror suspects.

Police sources said that there was round-the-clock coastal alert for Mumbai after the 26/11 terror attacks of 2008, and the port zone, coast guard and navy were always on alert. There was however no specific alert this time of any terrorists entering Indian waters.

A senior police officer said, “Reports of a group of three terror operatives of ISIS entering via sea are not true and a report mentioning this has been sent to concerned agencies.”

There were unconfirmed reports of the trio likely entering one of the four states on the western coast of India. Following a thorough probe, the file on the incident has been closed formally, officials said.

All agencies were put on an alert in September last year, after reports of a suspicious group of men spotted near the naval base in Uran.

Mumbai was also put on an alert and security of the city’s coast and vital installations was beefed up. The port zone of Mumbai police increased presence on all 91 landing points on Mumbai’s shores.