Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

More marine police stations sought

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has urged the Centre to sanction 14 marine police stations for the Andhra Pradesh coast in addition to the six already functioning at present.

Speaking at the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security in New Delhi on Tuesday, Dr. Reddy emphasised the need for providing the marine police station with sufficient infrastructure like speed boats and deep-sea equipment. He said each police station would cover 50 km of coastline in the State.

Explaining the measures already initiated by the State government, he said a new Organisation for Counter Terrorism Operations (OCTOPUS) has been set up.

Additional police force of 37,000 was being recruited of which 16,000 were already appointed. Police station level citizen’s committees in urban areas were being strengthened to identify militant movement. Commando force is planned to be posted in important cities and key installations, Dr. Reddy pointed out.

Pointing out that jihadis have pledged to liberate the erstwhile princely states of Hyderabad and Junagadh apart from Kashmir, Dr. Reddy said certain organisations have been fanning communal passions and creating a sense of insecurity among the unemployed youth in Hyderabad and neighbouring districts. He said the State police had successfully traced such organisations and persecuted them.

The Chief Minister requested the Centre to permit the appointment of Special Police Officers. The State is planning to enact a law on security of public places, making it mandatory for all corporate groups, malls, theatres to increase their security infrastructure and access control.

Security agencies are being trained for better security of temples and transport systems, he added.

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