Can't rule out another Mumbai like attack: Coast Guard chief

Coast Guard chief A.G. Thapliyal Friday asserted that coastal security has improved significantly since the 2008 Mumbai terror attack but did not rule out the possibility of another attack from the sea route.

"Fair amount of work has been done (after Mumbai terror attack)... but one cannot rule out the possibility (of terror attack)... as terrorist try out-of-the-box ways," said Vice Admiral Thapliyal, director general Coast Guard.

Responding to a question on the threat of another 26/11 type attack, he said terrorists had used a 'dinghy' - a small boat - to reach Mumbai shores and the Coast Guard are working to develop a technique to detect boats less than 20 metres in size.

The Mumbai terror attack by 10 Pakistani terrorists in November 2008 left 166 people dead and around 300 injured.

"Small boats are a cause for concern and we need to attend to that," Thapliyal said, adding that fishermen communities are being involved to keep track of any unidentified small boats.

Outreach programmes are also being held to communicate with fishermen, he said.