Chennai: At a time when intelligence inputs suggest that Rohingyas can use the sea route to infiltrate into India, the Indian Coast Guard is strengthening its muscles on the eastern sea board to stop such activities in the Bay of Bengal along the coasts of Bengal and Odisha.

Due to the tightening of security along the India-Myanmar and India-Bangladesh land borders, intelligence agencies fear that Rohingyas might use the sea route to sneak into the country. Maritime security agencies such as the Indian Coast Guard are on alert against such threats.

To strengthen its surveillance capability on the eastern sea board along the maritime zone near Odisha and West Bengal, the Coast Guard today inducted ICGS Vijaya in its fleet in Chennai from where it is being prepared for deployment to Paradip in Odisha.

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The ship built by private sector shipyard Larsen & Toubro (L&T) was commissioned by Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra at the Chennai port in presence of coast Guard Director General Rajendra Singh.

When asked how the ICGS Vijaya would help in checking infiltration of Rohingyas, commanding officer of the ship Commandant HJ Singh said the vessel, along with other assets of the force, is equipped with sensors and other equipment which can stop any attempts of infiltration into Indian territory.

Rohingya Muslims have been fleeing Myanmar since 2012 following their feud with local Buddhist population and the government of Myanmar. India has been affected with the largescale migration too, with a large number of them living in Assam, West Bengal, Jammu, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi.

The recent Sunjwan military station attack was carried out by these terrorists from an area infested with Rohingyas who have been living there for quite some time and have established colonies there.

ICGS Vijaya is the second ship built by L&T under the Make in India scheme and has been equipped with 30mm guns which can take down targets effectively up to two kilometres.

L&T is building four more ships of the type for the Coast Guard and they would be joining the force in the next couple of years.

After the 26/11 attacks, the Coast Guard has expanded its role in maritime security. The force has been inducting state-of-the-art equipment such as Choppers and aircraft for this purpose.