Panaji, July 29 (PTI) Additional Director General AK Harbola on Monday assumed the charge as Coast Guard Commander, western seaboard, at a ceremonial parade held at Mumbai-based ICG regional headquarters.

Harbola joined the Indian Coast Guard in January 1989 as a Direct Entry Officer. A 'silver medallist' in physics from Kumaun University, he also holds a master's degree in management studies from Osmania University, a release stated.

Also Read | Delhi Coaching Centre Deaths: LG VK Saxena Announces INR 10 Lakh Compensation to Kin of Three Victims.

Specialised in naval communication, Harbola commanded all types of coast guard ships and was involved in apprehending the hijacked Japanese merchant vessel 'Alondra Rainbow' in 1998 after a 780 km chase in the Arabian Sea onboard Coast Guard Ship Tarabai. He was awarded the 'Tatrakshak Medal' (TM) for gallantry' by the President.

Harbola had also served as the commander for the CG district of Maharashtra and for Andhra Pradesh, Coast Guard Region (North East) and Coast Guard Region (North West) before the latest posting.

Also Read | NEET-UG 2024 Counselling: MCC Issues Notice of Counselling for NEET From August 14.

He is an alumnus of the US Coast Guards International Maritime Officer's School, Virginia, College of Defence Management, Secunderabad, and National Defence College, New Delhi.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)