As Mumbai marks the anniversary of the 26/11 terror attacks, the city police have massively ramped up coastal surveillance by expanding their community-driven Sagar Rakshak system to its largest strength ever. The number of registered coastal volunteers, mostly fishermen, boatmen and maritime workers, has jumped from 549 last year to a record 1851, including 45 teams, in 2025, the highest in the programme’s history.

Mumbai’s shoreline has long been one of India’s most sensitive security frontiers. The 26/11 attackers entered the city by sea after hijacking a fishing vessel, and the explosives used in the 1993 serial blasts were also smuggled in through the coast. While the police have since upgraded weapons, communication tools and patrol boats, officers admit that no technology can replace the eyes and instincts of those who work at sea every day.