from daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji. Aug 6: A possible threat of weapon landing on the western coast have put police and coast guard authorities on high alert.

The general alert is sounded by the Home ministry cautioning police and coast guard about the possibility of arms landing on the western coast post-Mumbai blast and pre-Independence day celebrations.

Not taking any chance, the coast guard have intensified their patrolling from Gujarat to Kerala coast. "We have stepped up patrolling along the western coast," confirmed Commander R K Sharma, deputy inspector general, Coast Guard.

The alert is specific to the coasts of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala and Goa.

"We are looking at all the possibility and periodically we keep on getting general alerts from the home department," Comdt Sharma said. He said that coast guard aircrafts and vessels are monitoring the coast round the clock.

Goa police too are on their toes to curb such possibility and is working in tandem with the coast guard and Indian Navy. "There is a general alert about possible weapon landing along the western coast in the wake of August 15 celebrations," director general of police, Neeraj Kumar, stated.

The DGP said that the police is stressing for intelligence development through fishermen community to curb any attempts of weapon landing. "We are also joining hands with coast guard and navy," he added.

The police have clarified that there is no need to get panicky as the alert is general and is not anything specific.