Date:07/01/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/01/07/stories/2009010752810400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Security: “treat State’s coastline on a par with land borders”

Special Correspondent

Karunanidhi seeks more funds to modernise police force

State government planning to constitute a team of trained commandos
Central intelligence unit needs to exchange information with its State counterpart

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu’s coastline must be given the same security considerations as the country’s sensitive land borders, Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi said in his speech read out at the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security held in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister requested the Prime Minister to “treat the lengthy, porous border of Tamil Nadu along the east coast on a par with the international borders in north, east and west and increase the presence of central forces and the Coast Guard and the Navy”.

He noted that the State was forced to redefine its internal security strategies due to developments in Sri Lanka, and was taking efforts to organise intensive patrols and effective screening of refugees entering the country through the coast to prevent the infiltration of anti-national elements.

The Chief Minister asked for more funds to modernise the police force under the Union budget. The Chennai Police have made a proposal for Rs. 7,377 crore over a ten year period under the Modernisation of Police Force Scheme, and have requested Rs. 149.6 crore to be handed over by March 31 for immediate implementation, he said, asking for quick formal sanction.

“Since mega cities are becoming targets for terrorist attacks, the security related expenditure for countering terrorism may have to be borne by the Central government even beyond the promised period of ten years,” he said, also asking for a waiver of the requirement of sharing 25 per cent of overall sanctioned outlay.

The State government was planning to constitute a team of trained commandos to be positioned at Tirunelveli, Madurai, Coimbatore, Tiruchi, Salem and Chennai, said the Chief Minister. These teams would also be responsible for security at a number of major establishments and iconic structures.

The central intelligence unit needs to exchange information with its State counterpart on a regular basis, create a common database on terrorism and internal security and depute State personnel for international training. The revenue intelligence and enforcement directorates must join hands to break the money laundering and drug trafficking networks and contain the flow of foreign funds. The State government was actively considering a proposal to set up an Organised Crime Intelligence Unit, he said.