Russian couple breaches security, gains easy access to Mumbai waters

Russian Orlov Dmitry is helped by localsOver eight years since the 2611 attacks a Russian couple out on a seafaring world tour has exposed persisting chinks in the citys threetier coastal security apparatus The Russian nationals on a yacht sent security agencies into a tizzy on April 9 after they entered Indian waters and dropped anchor barely 500 m from the seashore without the requisite clearanceThe couple Orlov Dmitry 45 and Orlov Alena 39 left Russia on a yacht Scamp in 2015 to see the world and arrived in Mumbai on April 9 after visiting civil warwracked Yemen in February and Daman and Diu They sailed into the Indian territorial waters without any scrutiny and dropped anchored at the lighthouse close to the Gateway of India around 500 m from the shoreThe yacht Scamp anchored near the Gateway of India on April 9Alert fishermenThe couple would have got away and headed for their next destination but for the vigilance of local fishermen The Orlovs apparently dropped anchor after running out of food and approached a dinghy manned by local fishermen for help The fishermen alerted the Colaba policeThe presence of unauthorised foreign nationals this close to the shore rang alarms bells with the Maharashtra AntiTerrorism Squad the Intelligence Bureau the Central Board of Excise and Customs the Coast Guard and the NavyOfficials from the Colaba police questioned the couple and checked their documentsGetting clearancePolice sources said anybody who needs to anchor in Indian waters must contact local authorities the Navy and the Coast Guard 48 hours prior to the scheduled landing via globallyrecognised IDF international distress frequency channel 16 to get the required clearance The Indian agencies then verify the credentials of the sailors with their respective embassy in India Once the verification process is through the agencies ask their coastal patrol team to allow sailors access to Indian waters explained a sourceThe couple however claimed that despite attempts they had been unable to establish contact with Indian authorities They claimed that they had sent messages but had got no response But the police found no record of any such communication said a police officerRussian consulate says AOKThe Colaba police then consulted the Russian consulate whose officials verified the identity of the couple and even handed over an undertaking yesterday stating that the couple had a clean record and were only out on an adventureManoj Sharma deputy commissioner of police zone 1 who has jurisdiction over the Colaba police said The yacht was checked and the documents were verified There was nothing suspicious The authorities concerned have been informed about itA police official said the Orlovs have been provided food and will set sail for their next destination Indonesia soonCommandant Rahul Singh chief public relations officer defence was not available for comments despite repeated attemptsThe unauthorised entry of the Orlovs is reminiscent of the way 10 Pakistani gunmen including Ajmal Kasab gained entry into Mumbai to unleash one of the most horrific terror attacks the country has seen The 2611 attack spurred a massive overhaul of coastal security