The Hindu : National : 68 marine police stations coming up

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Friday, Aug 03, 2007
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68 marine police stations coming up

Arunkumar Bhatt

MUMBAI: The Coast Guard and police forces of 10 maritime States and five Union Territories are busy setting up 68 marine police stations to enforce laws in inshore waters up to five nautical miles.

The marine police stations have to be operational by 2010, according to a deadline set by the Union Government.

The Coast Guard has started training the police personnel.

They will operate boats armed with medium machine guns to patrol creeks, bays and inner islands where the Coast Guard does not enter.

A Group of Ministers had recommended raising the marine police.

The training includes navigation, seamanship, naval communication, interception of craft and ships and even boarding them, a top Coast Guard official told The Hindu. The operational jurisdiction of the marine police will be up to fi ve nautical miles. From there the Coast Guard’s responsibility will begin and it will extend till the outer edge of the Exclusive Economic Zone.

But this division is not watertight. “We are the hub and the marine police will be our spokes,” said Inspector General A. Rajasekhar, who commands the Coast Guard’s Western Region — the entire west coast of the country and also the Lakshadweep and Minicoy Islands.

About 32 marine police stations will come up on the west coast. Of these, 12 will be in Maharashtra.

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