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An alert has been sounded along the Konkan coast following fears that terrorists may try to land explosives to sabotage the three-day meeting of the Bharatiya Janata Party national executive in Goa from April 12.
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar confirmed the report on Tuesday and said the navy, coast guard and customs are patrolling the coastal belt round the clock.
Security arrangements are also being tightened in Goa with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee arriving in the state in the afternoon of April 12. He will stay in Goa till April 14.
Union Home Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and other central ministers will also attend the meeting.
The authorities suspect that RDX may be landed at one of the desolate rocky beaches along the Konkan coast in neighbouring Maharashtra and moved to Goa from there. So round-the-clock patrolling up to 10km in the sea has begun and the coast guard is monitoring the movements of ships in the area.
Officials have also begun checking whether any trawler is stocking more diesel than is required for routine fishing trips.
Meanwhile, it has been tentatively decided that the prime minister will be staying at the Fort Aguada Beach Resort, though BJP politicians say security personnel are still to give their green signal.
Most of the party delegates will be housed at the Hotel Marriott Resort, where the meeting will also take place. Important party dignitaries, including central ministers, may, however, stay elsewhere.
Security personnel are also exploring the possibility of moving the prime minister by helicopter to avoid using roads as far as possible.
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