Amidst protests by Indian fishermen against the planting of mines along the maritime border by Sri Lankan Navy, Coast Guard today said the island nation could not be prevented from installing such devices to ensure the security of their territory.
Talking to reporters at the "Fifth island" near the International Maritime Boundary Line, the Commanding Officer of the Indian Coastguard Station at Mandapam, Commander K Janarthanan said: "how can we prevent them from planting mines, when they have got every right to make their country secure in whatever way they desire".
He said the Sri Lankan officials had informed the Indian side about the mines so that fishermen could be careful.
Their objective was to prevent the movement of LTTE in and around Delft island, which was 12 nautical miles away from the IMBL, he said.
He also ruled out the possibility of the mines drifting into the Indian territory as they had been placed very far from the IMBL. Besides, the area where the mines had been planted were in the 'High Security Area', where fishermen were not allowed.
"If the fishermen went into the war zone and got killed in the cross-fire or by mines, it is also a cause of worry", he said.
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