Other States - Pondicherry   

Pondy port `vulnerable' to anti social activities: CG chief

Rajesh Nair

"Due to this Coast Guard station has been established here"

VISIT: The Director General of Coast Guard, Prabhakaran Paleri, being briefed about the CG station by Commandant N. Somasundaram on Friday in Pondicherry. R. Singh, Inspector General, Coast Guard East Region, is also seen. — Photo: T. Singaravelou

PONDICHERRY: One of the reasons for establishing the Coast Guard station in Pondicherry is because the port here has been "vulnerable" to anti social and anti national activities, according to Prabhakaran Paleri, Director General of Indian Coast Guard.

In an informal chat with The Hindu on the sidelines of his visit to the new station, he said, "The port is open to the sea and it could become a sanctuary to anti-social elements and even those working against national interest."

To substantiate the argument he cited the mid-sea incident that happened off Pondicherry coast where a foreign merchant vessel was intercepted. The captain of the ship committed suicide before he could be apprehended but later investigations found the ship was involved in drug trafficking.

"We could not find any direct involvement of anyone here in the case. During the investigation it was found there are many weak points and the port is vulnerable," he noted.

Before setting up the station here, there were no other CG station between Chennai and Mandapam to monitor the coastline.

In the days to come the maritime agency would position one interceptor boat.

Already one interceptor has been stationed here, he added. He further said that there would not be any more stations will be established along the Tamil Nadu coast.

However, one more station would be established in the South at Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh.

Sri Lankan crisis

Asked about the escalation of tension in Sri Lanka he said the situation was still delicate and the CG and Navy were closely monitoring the scenario, especially the refugee movement. He said the situation warrants a very close monitoring since the demand for logistics, especially medicines, was on the increase.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Pondy port `vulnerable' to anti social activities: CG chief
Opposition disturbing law and order, says Narayanasamy
Braille-signage EVMs
Anbalagan's request to EC

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu