The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Joint patrolling along coast gets under way

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 24, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Joint patrolling along coast gets under way

Special Correspondent

Special focus will be on 21 uninhabited islands

NEW ARRANGEMENT: Indian Coast Guard and Coastal Security Group personnel conducting joint patrol in the sea.

RAMANATHAPURAM: The Indian Coast Guard has commenced joint patrolling with the Coastal Security Group (CSG), a wing of the State police specifically formed to check illegal activities along the coast, in the Gulf of Mannar, Palk Strait and Pak Bay.

This is in keeping with the arrangement made between top officials of the Coast Guard and Coastal Security Group recently. While personnel of the recently established marine police station at Mandapam joined the party at the Coast Guard Station at Mandapam, another group of CSG personnel began the journey with personnel of the Coast Guard Station at Tuticorin.

Commandant K. Janardhanan, Commanding Officer, Coast Guard Station, Mandapam, told The Hindu on Wednesday that the patrolling was aimed at enhancing maritime security measures. The CSG personnel were being accommodated on vessels, including ships, interceptor craft and interceptor boats of the Coast Guard, on alternative days.

Besides ensuring the safety of fishermen at sea, the joint patrol party would visit all strategic locations in the Palk Bay, Palk Strait and nearby areas to check illegal activities.

Special attention would be given to 21 uninhabited islands along the coast between Mandapam and Tuticorin.

Mr. Janardhanan said marine police stations, which would be able to generate more intelligence inputs on the activities of suspicious elements, could be utilised for launching specific operations. The boarding operation (enquiring suspected fishermen on sea) could be conducted more effectively using the services of policemen well versed in Tamil.

Though a section of CSG personnel have undergone two weeks’ training, the joint patrolling would help them to understand the behaviour of the sea, monsoon changes etc., he added.

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

Tamil Nadu