CHENNAI: Fourteen years after its creation, the Coastal Security Group (CSG) of the Tamil Nadu Police will soon have personnel of its own.

The State Government has allocated Rs. 5 crore for the CSG in the first phase for recruitment of personnel and ministerial staff for the Marine Police Stations (MPS) under the coastal security scheme. A detailed order from the Government is expected soon.

Already, personnel of a Tamil Nadu Special Police battalion, christened CSG battalion, are manning check posts of the special unit in the State.

The CSG is now imparting specialised training, including sea swimming, to its personnel. Four-week indoor classes is being conducted by Coast Guard for the personnel on elementary knowledge of navigation on board a ship for three days to enable them handle their duties and responsibilities effectively and to get a feel of sea life. Those to be inducted into the MPS would also undergo the approved trainings, Additional Director-General of Police, CSG, Jagan M. Seshadri, told The Hindu .

The CSG was formed in 1994 for "prevention of smuggling of fuel, medicines, narcotics, fire arms, ammunition and other essential commodities by sea from Tamil Nadu coast to Sri Lanka and prevention of intrusion of militants and collusion between fishermen, militants and smugglers." Initially, it was headed by a Deputy Inspector-General and the post was upgraded Inspector-General in 1995.

A new post of Additional Director-General was created in 1999. However, the CSG had officials only up to the rank of sub-inspectors. A proposal had been sent to the Government seeking sanction for nearly 500 personnel for the unit.

The role of the CSG assumes significance in the wake of recent incidents of attempting to smuggle explosives and components from the Tamil Nadu coast to Sri Lanka. Construction of 12 MPS was on.

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