Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Coastal Security Scheme on track, says DGP

CHENNAI: The State police have completed construction of seven police stations near the coastline and another five will be completed soon, stated a release from the Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu, on Thursday.

Refuting allegations that the State was not implementing the Coastal Security Scheme announced by the Centre, under which a dozen police stations were to be created in coastal zones, the release said personnel had already been selected for the Coastal Zone police stations. They were undergoing training in swimming in the sea and operation of ships.

The coastal zone stations would become operational within a week, the release said. Work on the remaining five police stations would be completed before August and they would become functional thereafter.

The State Coastal Security Group had gathered all details about the 591 fishing villages. It had also listed the fishing centres. It had also formed awareness committees in these villages and created check-posts to control smuggling. Besides, the fishermen were being provided security and the required assistance, the release said.

The Coastal Security Group was working in co-ordination with the Coast Guard and the Indian Navy to curb smuggling of materials into Sri Lanka and to stop the entry of terrorists into the State. The Group verified those who entered the State as refugees, the release said.

In the last two years, due to the efforts of the State police, smuggling of explosives, medicines and essential commodities to Sri Lanka had stopped. The police arrested 139 persons in this connection and 45 of them have been detained under the National Security Act. The police were taking all precautionary measures and providing adequate protection and taking all measures to strengthen coastal security, the release said.

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