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Interceptor boat arrives

Staff Reporter

It will enhance coastal security and enforce maritime law

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

ARRIVAL: Commanding Officer of Coast Guard Station in Puducherry Commandant N. Somasundaram (right extreme) and Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar (second from right) at a ceremony to receive the interceptor boat in Puducherry on Thursday.

PUDUCHERRY: It was a solemn occasion for the eight-month-old Coast Guard Station here on Thursday when its Commanding Officer Commandant N. Somasundaram and Inspector General of Police Kishan Kumar received an interceptor boat. It will be stationed in Puducherry. The interceptor boat, which had been raised at Mandapam, has been re-based in Puducherry to enhance coastal security, render assistance to the fishermen, to enforce maritime law and to assist the Puducherry police in coastal security coordinated patrol.

Mr. Somasundaram said that in view of the Marine Police Station coming up at Karaikal this boat was necessary to train police personnel in marine policing. The maritime agency would be assisting the marine policemen in patrolling the coast from Marakanam to Nagapattinam. "We would be closely associating with the territorial administration in monitoring the coastline," he added. The CG Station here already has an interceptor craft.

Captain of the interceptor boat, Deputy Commandant Praveenkumar, was also present. The boat, with anti-aircraft and machine guns, is basically meant for anti-smuggling and anti-poaching operations. The highly stable boat can cruise around 50 km per hour.

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Interceptor boat arrives

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