Review functioning of special unit Sagar Prahari Bal, House panel tells Navy

Ajay Banerjee

New Delhi, February 7

The Public Accounts Committee of Parliament today asked the Navy to carry out a comprehensive review of the functioning of the Sagar Prahari Bal, created after the 26/11 terror attacks and tasked with protecting shore-based installations.

The committee tabled its report on the subject, “Establishment and Operationalisation of Sagar Prahari Bal”. The force was sanctioned with a complement of 1,000 personnel comprising 120 officers, 240 senior sailors and 640 junior sailors. It was to have a fast interceptor craft and be based at 13 Indian naval ports within a timeline of three years — till February 2012. The committee said the Navy was yet to achieve the complete deployment of officers even though sanction was given in 2009.