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In what could be a shocking breach of security, few school children have claimed that they saw movement of some suspicious persons near Uran Navy Base in Raigad, Maharashtra according to ANI. [caption id=“attachment_3016106” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Navy has launched combing operations at Uran after 2 school children claimed to have spotted masked men near Naval base. Sanjay Sawant. Firstpost[/caption] The children reportedly spotted some men dressed in black camouflage uniform carrying ammunition around the ammunition dump, near the Uran Navy base, following which the kids alerted the local police, according to a report by NDTV. The NDTV report also said that the men had reportedly hidden their faces, which is why the children became suspicious. The children, according to Firstpost correspondent, were students of the SES School in Uran. So far, there has been no corroborative statement from any other witness has come to light. Hemant Nagrale, the police commissioner for Navi Mumbai, told Firstpost that the police is verifying whether the threat is genuine. DGP Maharashtra has said that following the complaint of two school kids who spotted four to five suspicious men in Uran near Mumbai, a search operation has been initiated in the state. He said that the men were spotted at around 06.30 am on Thursday morning. As seen in visuals aired by news channels, the Navy has also deployed helicopters for aerial surveillance. Following the development the Indian navy has launched search operations in and around Mumbai, according to Times Now. NDTV further reported that the Indian Navy has been put on the highest state of alert. Meanwhile, a red alert has been sounded in Maharashtra. Force-I, a special wing of Mumbai Police, has been deployed to investigate the matter, DCP, Navi Mumbai, Arvind Salve told Firstpost. Naval bases at Thane and Raigad as well as the Indian Air Force are also on high alert, according to CNN-News18. Although local police were the first to respond to the incident, the matter is being investigated in coordination with the Maharashtra anti-terror sqaud. It should be noted hat the Uran Navy Base is very close to vital installation like Bhabha Atomic Centre, as reported by NDTV. This comes at a time when cross-border infiltration is at it’s highest in the recent years. The army has on Thursday foiled two infiltration bids along the Line of Control by militants trying to sneak into Kashmir Valley from Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. Apart from this, two ongoing encounters are underway in Uri and Nowgam sectors for the past two days in which one soldier has been killed. There were reports of at least eight militants getting killed in the Uri operation but no bodies have been recovered so far. The spokesman said Army has enhanced vigil in view of increased infiltration attempts along the LoC . “In the wee hours of today (Thursday), two separate groups, trying to sneak in, were intercepted and forced to flee back,” he added.
As it happened: High alert in Mumbai after Uran students spot suspicious men, NSG deployed
It is instructive to note here that the Uran Navy Base is very close to vital installation like Bhabha Atomic Centre.
 "As it happened: High alert in Mumbai after Uran students spot suspicious men, NSG deployed")
State and central forces are keeping close vigil: CM Devendra Fadnavis
CM @Dev_Fadnavis spoke to DGP , @CPMumbaiPolice and Intel Comm.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016
All precautions are being taken.
Massive combing operations are on.
1/2
State &Central forces are working in close Cordination.CM @Dev_Fadnavis has appealed citizens not to panic.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) September 22, 2016
Situation under close vigil.
2/2
Gujarat coast put on alert
Gujarat was also put on alert and security agencies have been asked to keep a close vigil on the coastline, officials said after a high alert was in Mumbai and adjoining areas. Additional DGP, Law and Order, Tirth Raj, said the Superintendents of Police (SPs) of coastal districts of Gujarat, along with officials handling the coastal security, have been asked to monitor the situation.
“After a high alert sounded along the Mumbai coast today, we have also issued an alert along the Gujarat coast. All the district SPs of coastal areas have been asked to remain alert and step up security along the coast through continuous patrolling,” he told PTI.
NSG teams deployed in Mumbai, standby in Delhi
Teams of elite anti-terror commando force NSG have been deployed in three locations in Mumbai and another team has been kept ready in Delhi to be flown if required after a group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base along Maharashtra coast.
Teams of National Security Guard, drawn from its Mumbai hub, pre-positioned at three locations in Mumbai and another team is on alert at NSG base in IGI airport in Delhi, official sources said.
Precautionary action taken in Mumbai to cut down reaction time in case of any emergency situation, sources said.
A high alert has already been sounded along the Maharashtra coast after the group of men were spotted moving suspiciously near a naval base at Uran in Raigad district, leading to multi-agency search operations by multiple agencies.
The alert comes four days after the terror attack in Uri in which 18 soldiers were killed.
Coastal security has been a top priority after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai in which multiple locations in the city were targeted by Pakistani terrorists who landed using the sea route.
The fishing town of Uran is located across the eastern water front of the financial capital.
PTI
Navi Mumbai police chief confirms search operations
“Two witnesses sighted five suspects today morning around 7 am in Uran town. As per witnesses The suspects were carrying arms and were wearing Pathani dress and covering their faces. Police with support of other security agencies have launched operations to trace out these suspects. Till now the version of Witnesses could not be confirmed either way. Efforts are on,” Navi Mumbai, Commissioner of Police Hemant Nagrale told Firstpost.
NSG commandos reach Navi Mumbai
According to the DG (Control Room) in Mumbai, a platoon of NSG commandos have already reached Navi Mumbai. The special unit of the Mumbai Police, Force One is also assisting the local police.
Maharashtra: Uran Education Society School(students of which had complained) has declared a holiday tomorrow due to security reasons
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2016
Maharashtra Home Secretary KP Bakshi on #UranTerrorAlert pic.twitter.com/bQKU0vCIhw
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 22, 2016
Maharshtra Home Secretary asks for detailed report on Uran alert by Friday
ACS Home KP Bakshi asks DG Police Maharashtra to submit a detailed report on Uran alert by tomorrow
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2016
12-year-olds raised alarm?
According to CNN-News18, students from the SCS High School in Uran have said that the two students who claimed to have spotted the suspected terrorists were around 12 years of age and were students of standard eight. According to the students, the kids appeared ‘scared’ when they approached their school teacher.
Security checks on in Mumbai
According to reports by All India Radio heavy police force has been deployed in the region and vehicles are being checked near Girgaum Chaupati.
We are on high alert and checking all vehicles: Shivaji Paradke, API, Uran PS on #MumbaiTerrorAlert
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 22, 2016
LIVE: https://t.co/Nr4TFMc7XT
NSG deployed to trace suspected terrorists
High level sources in the police forces have confirmed to Firstpost that National Security Guards have been deployed to trace the suspected terrorists spotted by two children at around 6.30 am on Thursday
Maharashtra Home Secretary briefs MHA
According to Times Now, Maharshtra Home secretary KP Bakshi has briefed the Union Ministry of Home Affairs about the situation in Uran. He told the news channel that the probe is being supervised by the DGP, Navi Mumbai and National Securiyt Advisor Ajit Doval is keeping a close eye on the developments.
Suspect yet to be located: Navy
The Indian navy has said that no suspect has been located or apprehended yet in the sea and the situation is being monitored. In a statement issued to the press, the Navy confirmed that the combing operations are underway but so far nothing has been found, according to CNN-News18
‘We are fully equipped to handle all terror threats’
In an interview to CNN-News18, the Maharshtra Home Secretary KP Bakshi has said that the forces deployed on the ground are fully equipped to handle all terror threats. He also added that the people should not panic as the situation is under control.
Bakshi told News18 that in due time, the police may issue a description of the suspicious men to the general public for identification. The men are reportedly armed and are carrying backpacks.
Mumbai Police asks fishermen to stay vigilant
Colaba Police Station has sent out an alert to fishermen asking them to report any suspicious persons, or movement of unfamiliar boats around the Mumbai coast, according to a Firstpost correspondent.
National Security Guard, Anti-Terrorism Squad, Mumbai Crime Branch and Indian Navy are combing the Mumbai coast and all sea routes leading to the Indian ports.
Security beefed up near sensitive spots in Maharashtra
Security has been beefed up at sensitive locations along the coast, including the Gateway of India, Raj Bhawan, Bombay High Court, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and other major establishments near the sea, according to PTI
Suspected terrorists mention ‘ONGC’, ‘School’?
The two school children who claimed to have spotted the suspicious movement around the naval facility, said that they overheard the men conversing in an unfamiliar language, The children said that they overheard bits of the conversation and they could make out two words, ‘ONGC’ and ‘School,’ which were being used repeatedly.
They were spotted by students opposite to the Naval base,as per students they heard the men say 'ONGC' and 'school' repeatedly: Navy sources
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2016
All schools near Uran closed following high terror alert
#UPDATE | Schools in and around Uran closed following #TerrorAlert in the region
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 22, 2016
Western Naval Command confirms Navy on high alert
“I am only confirming that Navy is at a high state of alert after getting this input ie regarding suspicious activity reported by some school children in Karanja near Mumbai,” said Indian Navy PRO DK Sharma told a Firstpost correspondent.
The Western Naval Command (WNC) confirmed issuing “the highest state of alert” along the Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane and Raigad coasts," reported PTI.
Uran Sessions Court evacuated
Intensive combing and search operations have been launched in and around Mumbai following the update. Maharshtra ATS, Crime Branch, and Force-I team of the Mumbai police have been roped in to investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, Uran Session Court has been evacuated by the security forces and all under construction buildings and and open spaces in the region are being searched by the police squad, a Firstpost correspondent learned from sources on the ground.
Navy, IAF on highest alert
Given the sensitive nature of the location, the Western Naval Command in Mumbai has issued a high alert along the Mumbai coast after four suspicious men in were spotted near a naval facility in Uran, about 47 kms from Mumbai. Naval bases in Thane, Uran, Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, and Raigadh are on highest alert.
School girl claims to spot four masked men
A school girl, who was one of the children who saw the suspected men, told a Firstpost correspondent she saw 4 masked men dressed in Pathan suits near the the Bori Naka in Uran. Another boy later claimed to have spotted 2 more suspicious persons at Kumbharwada locality in Uran, in Raigad district. Both children are studenst of the SCS High School in Uran.
Uran in Raigadh district is close to vital installations
Uran Naval base is very close to Mumbai docks and Bhabha Atomic Centre. According to India Today INS Abhimanyu is also close to the dock.
Police questions school children who claimed to have spotted suspected terrorists near Uran
Police questioning school children who spotted suspected terrorists near Uran base; Students overheard suspects talking of ‘School’ & ‘ONGC’
— News18 (@CNNnews18) September 22, 2016
Home Ministry apprised of situation by Mumbai Police
Union Ministry for Home Affairs are in touch with senior Police officers from Mumbai, who have apprised the MHA of the situation. Maharashtra Anti-terror Squad, Crime Branch, and Force-I special branch of Mumbai Police have reached on the spot.
Students spot suspicious movements near Navy base
According to ANI, the students saw four men talking to each other in an unfamiliar language at around 11 am. Navy sources said they heard the men say ONGC’ and ‘school’ repeatedly.
They were spotted by students opposite to the Naval base,as per students they heard the men say 'ONGC' and 'school' repeatedly: Navy sources
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2016
High terror alert in Uran
A few school children have claimed that they saw movement of some suspicious persons near Uran Navy Base in Raigad, following which the Navy launched a combing operation on Thursday.
Navi Mumbai police outside the school where students claimed of seeing a group of armed men, near Naval base in Maharashtra's Uran pic.twitter.com/lrFFVC6Zqe
— ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2016
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